Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania, is one of the greatest natural wonders in the world. This massive unbroken volcanic caldera forms a unique bowl that holds 25,000+ large animals. Looking for the best things to do in this stunning destination? Here are the absolute best things to do on your visit.
Take an Epic Game Drive to See the Big Five
The number one activity is to drive down 600 meters to the crater floor for a morning or afternoon game drive. The crater walls are a natural enclosure, and so the wildlife lives here all year round. It’s one of the best places in Africa to see the whole Big Five—lions, leopards, elephants, buffalo, and the critically endangered black rhino.
Watch Flamingos at Lake Magadi.
In the middle of the crater floor is Lake Magadi, a large alkaline lake. One of the most beautiful things here is watching the thousands of pink flamingos that gather along the water's edge to eat algae. The bright pink shoreline against the golden savanna grass makes for incredible postcard-perfect photographs.
Have a picnic in the wilderness
Most full-day safari tours include a lunch stop at the Ngoitokitok Springs picnic site. Here you can get out of your safari vehicle and have a meal next to a natural spring filled with hippos. Look up at the sky, as large black kites (birds of prey) are famous for swooping down to steal snacks from relaxed tourists!
Meet The Maasai
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is special in that people and animals cohabit. A top cultural thing to do is to visit a traditional Maasai boma (village) on the crater rim. You can see their famous jumping dances, see traditional beadwork, and hear how they have been living in peace with wild animals for centuries.
Enjoy the rim view.
Before you drive down into the crater, stop at the official crater rim viewpoint. From the top, there is a panoramic misty view of the whole caldera. Before you begin your wildlife adventure below, you get a sense of the real size of this prehistoric volcanic giant.
