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View of the Ngorongoro crater from atop the mountain
Home/Destinations/Africa/Tanzania/Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Ngorongoro Conservation Area Vacation Packages and Tours

Ngorongoro Crater

Overview

Take a trip to Ngorongoro Conservation Area on your Tanzania Vacation

When undertaking a Tanzania safari, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located to the west of Arusha in the Crater Highlands of Tanzania. To the northwest, it adjoins Serengeti National Park and to the south and west are volcanic highlands that include Ngorongoro Crater. Southern and eastern borders run along the Great Rift Valley.

The conservation area was originally part of Serengeti National Park when it was established by the British in 1951. The area was listed as a World Heritage Site in 1979 because it provided protection for wildlife while allowing human habitation, which was unique in Tanzania.

The most famous part of the conservation area is the Ngorongoro Crater. It was formed when a giant volcano exploded and then collapsed around two to three million years ago. The crater hosts some of the highest densities of lions in the world and is a good place to see the endangered black rhino on a Tanzania safari. Wildebeest, zebra, elands and Grant’s and Thompson’s gazelles also live in the crater. The rim hosts leopards, elephants and buffalo. In total, the crater houses a permanent population of more than 30,000 animals.

The Great Migration, one of the most incredible natural phenomena in the world passes through Ngorongoro, moving south in December and then returning north in June, something special to be experienced on a Tanzania vacation.

At a Glance

Languages

Swahili, English

Currency

Tanzanian Shilling (TZS)

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Odysseys by Goway

Tarangire National Park
+1

Tanzania Odyssey

Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tarangire National Park, Arusha, and Mount Kilimanjaro
Discover Tanzania on a Goway-exclusive small-group safari through Tarangire, Ngorongoro and the Serengeti on select departures.
7 days
From US$5,549/p.p.
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Escorted Tours

Serengeti National Park,  Africa,  Tanzania.
+1

Simba Safari Tanzania

Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Serengeti National Park, Lake Manyara, Tarangire National Park, Arusha, and Mount Kilimanjaro
Experience Tanzania on a small-group safari through Tarangire, Lake Manyara, the Serengeti and Ngorongoro, with spectacular wildlife viewing.
8 days
From US$4,213/p.p.
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Classics

Lion Pride, Serengeti National Park
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Classic Tanzania: Tarangire, Ngorongoro & Serengeti

Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tarangire National Park, Arusha, and Mount Kilimanjaro
Explore northern Tanzania’s iconic parks, encounter remarkable wildlife and Maasai culture, and stay in distinctive safari lodges and camps.
7 days
From US$5,663/p.p.
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Goway Select

The Great Migration, Masai Mara
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Tanzania Great Migration Safari

Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, and Tarangire National Park
A private safari through northern Tanzania, where elephant-rich plains, crater wildlife and the Serengeti’s sweeping grasslands bring migration drama close.
7 days
From US$6,407/p.p.
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Serengeti National Park
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Signature Tanzania: Ngorongoro & Serengeti Private Reserve

Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Conservation Area
A private-guided safari through Tanzania, from misty crater highlands to remote Serengeti plains, with unrushed game drives and immersive wildlife encounters.
6 days
From US$13,973/p.p.
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Leopard resting on a tree branch, yawning lazily in the wild.
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Tanzania Tented Camps

Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tarangire National Park, Arusha, and Mount Kilimanjaro
Discover Tanzania's wild heart on this safari, staying in luxurious tented camps across Tarangire, Ngorongoro, and the Serengeti amid breathtaking wildlife.
9 days
From US$11,483/p.p.
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Cheetahs roaming the plains of Tanzania
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Highlights of Tanzania

Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Arusha, and Mount Kilimanjaro
Witness the Big Five and more on this small group safari through Tanzania’s top wildlife spots—Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro Crater, and the iconic Serengeti.
7 days
From US$9,419/p.p.
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Escorted Tours

Sky Safari
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Tanzania SkySafari: Tarangire, Ngorongoro, Serengeti

Arusha, Mount Kilimanjaro, Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, and Tarangire National Park
Discover Tanzania on a small-group fly-in safari through Tarangire, the Serengeti and Ngorongoro, combining spectacular wildlife with stylish Elewana stays.
8 days
From US$13,372/p.p.
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What do the experts say?

Kelley Cleaveland

Kelley Cleaveland

Destination Specialist
Learn More About This Expert
An ideal first-time itinerary starts in Arusha and ends in Zanzibar. To maximize time, “Sky Safari” packages using small aircraft to fly guests directly between lodges offer breathtaking aerial views of Tanzania’s diverse landscapes as well as convenience.
Brooke Theron

Brooke Theron

Team Lead
Learn More About This Expert
The people and wildlife are amazing. You always feel safe at the tented camps, even knowing animals are around. The locals treat you with such warmth and respect.
Brooke Theron

Brooke Theron

Team Lead
Learn More About This Expert
We provide local experiences, manage client expectations, and work with trusted suppliers so travellers feel safe and enjoy every moment of their trip.
Brooke Theron

Brooke Theron

Team Lead
Learn More About This Expert
Ngorongoro and Serengeti National Park are simply spectacular. There’s no place quite like the massive crater or the migration-covered plains.
Brooke Theron

Brooke Theron

Team Lead
Learn More About This Expert
Tanzania’s hospitality is incredible. You’ll always feel welcomed, wherever you go.

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