Ngorongoro in July

July is a good month to visit Ngorongoro Crater. The long rains will be a distant memory, but the crater shouldn’t have dried out completely, and wildlife is prolific as ever. Further afield, July is also a good month for Zanzibar beach holidays and Kilimanjaro climbs, as well as for optimistic travellers hoping to catch the dramatic Grumeti river crossing as the Serengeti wildebeest march northward through the Western Corridor. Those hoping for an uncrowded safari should be aware that July usually marks the start of the high season in northern Tanzania. Together with June, it is the chilliest month on the crater rim (average daily maximum 19°C and nightly minimum 8°C) but this shouldn’t be a deterrent - just bring plenty of warm clothing.

Budget Ngorongoro Safari

The Ngorongoro Crater cannot be considered a budget destination. The conservation authority charges a high daily entrance fee and crater service fee and access is only realistic in a sturdy and well-maintained 4x4 with an experienced local driver, and accommodation on the crater rim and in nearby Karati is all pretty pricey. The best way to keep down costs is to camp, either at the…

Ngorongoro in November

Ngorongoro Crater tends to be relatively warm and wet in November, with an average daily maximum temperature of 22°C, a nightly minimum of 10°C, and around 110mm of rainfall. These short rains are usually not so heavy as to have a negative impact on tourism, and they create an spring-like aura of regeneration to the landscape following the long dry season. Wildlife is plentiful, with…

Olmoti Crater

Credit: Travel Buckhead Another dramatic relic of the volcanic activity that shaped the Crater Highlands over the past ten million years, Olmoti - a Maasai name meaning Cooking Pot - is a sunken caldera whose rim is reached along a 30-minute footpath from the ranger post at Nainokanoka. Covered in grass and bisected by a river valley, this shallow crater doesn’t quite match Ngorongoro…

Ngorongoro in June

June is arguably the optimum month to visit Ngorongoro Crater. The long rains should be over, but the scenery will still be green and lush, and the safari circuit remains relatively uncrowded, as peak tourist season only starts to kick in towards the end of the month or into July. Looking further afield, it is also a good month for Zanzibar beach holidays and Kilimanjaro climbs, and…

Honeymoon safari in the Ngorongoro

credit: Ngorongoro Crater Camp Bespoke safaris are the name of the game in Tanzania, and probably half of the open-topped 4x4s you see in Ngorongoro and elsewhere on the northern safari circuit are occupied by one couple. In many respects, the best way to explore the area is with a like-minded partner rather than a larger group with more divergent interests and temperaments. It is also…

Ngorongoro in April

April is the wettest month in most parts of Tanzania, and Ngorongoro is no exception, with the crater rim receiving an average monthly rainfall of 220mm. This has no direct effect on wildlife viewing - on the contrary, wildlife populations within the crater are very high in April - but it does mean that a significant proportion of game drives are likely to be partly rained. Taking other…

Popular Ngorongoro Crater Safaris

These popular itineraries can be customised to match your budget and travel dates