Distance: Approximately 190 km each way
Driving time: Approximately 3.5–4 hours each way
Safari duration: Full day
Early start from Arusha
Your adventure starts with an early morning pickup from your hotel in Arusha, usually around 5:30–6:00 AM. First, you meet your professional safari guide. Then you set off for the Ngorongoro Conservation Area in a comfortable 4×4 safari vehicle with a pop-up roof.
During the drive, you pass through the beautiful countryside of northern Tanzania. After the entry formalities at the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, you descend about 600 metres into the Ngorongoro Crater. Next, your game drive begins.
Ngorongoro Crater Game Drive
The crater floor holds an extraordinary concentration of wildlife. Meanwhile, your experienced guide drives through different habitats, such as grasslands, woodland, wetlands and the shores of Lake Magadi. Along the way, you also look for wildlife and great photo opportunities.
During your game drive, you may see lions, elephants, black rhinos, Cape buffaloes, zebras and wildebeest. You may also spot giraffes (less commonly seen on the crater floor), hippos, hyenas, gazelles and other antelopes, as well as flamingos and many bird species. In addition, the crater is famous for predators and large herds of grazing animals in a fairly compact area.
Picnic Lunch
At midday, you enjoy a packed picnic lunch at a designated picnic area. The exact spot depends on the day’s conditions and park regulations, so your guide chooses it on the day. After that, you continue exploring the crater floor. Finally, you enjoy your last wildlife sightings before driving up out of the crater.
Return to Arusha
In the afternoon, you leave the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and begin the drive back to Arusha.
You then arrive in Arusha in the evening, at about 7:00–9:00 PM, depending on road and traffic conditions. Finally, we drop you off at your hotel or another agreed location.
