Ngorongoro Crater offers one of the best Tanzania safari experiences since it is the world’s largest inactive volcanic caldera. With its unparalleled density of wildlife and breathtaking landscapes, Ngorongoro crater is known as Africa’s Garden of Eden.
Ngorongoro crater is located in Ngorongoro Conservation Area in the Northern Tanzania just next to Serengeti National Park. Ngorongoro is an amazing destination for safaris. There are over 25,000 large animals in the crater such as wildebeest, black rhinos, black hyenas, Kobs, Antelopes, Jackals, Hippos and including all of the Big 5 such as lions, buffaloes, elephants, leopards among others.
June to October (dry season) is considered to be the best time to visit Ngorongoro Crater. However, you will get a greener landscape and lesser crowds during wetter months of November till May.
Fortunately, the enclosed nature of the Crater makes wildlife viewings spectacular all year round. The general high season of the Ngorongoro Crater takes place for most of the year from July until March. While the dry season is generally regarded as the best time to visit the Ngorongoro Crater and each season comes with its pros and cons.
The best time of year to visit the Ngorongoro Crater is when the grass is shorter which makes wildlife easier to spot. The predictable weather is also ideal for safaris. Another thing to consider is that during these months, there is a smaller malaria risk with fewer mosquitos.
During this time, the magical wildlife experience of the Ngorongoro Crater can be tainted by the reality of the sheer number of tourists and safari vehicles in the area. This peak season is the best but during this period accommodation is scarce and expensive.
However, the grass is longer during the wet season which could make it more difficult to spot animals and greater malaria precautions should also be taken during this time because during rainy season mosquitoes are more likely to be many.
Spectacular scenery is a major perk of the wet season. The rains transform the Crater into a lush, green landscape. This is also the peak season for bird watching as migratory birds make the Crater their seasonal home. Higher water levels at Lake Magadi also draw more flamingos to the area.
During the low season (wet season), safaris are not likely to be impacted by the short rainy season and can be timed around afternoon showers. The long rainy season however, could have a greater impact on the safaris.
During wet season, most of the lodges are on discounts and hence being somehow cheap. Since Ngorongoro crater can be visited all year round, there may not be a clear best time for visiting. The best time for visiting Ngorongoro crater will depend on what you are going to do. Below is a simple month by month description for traveling to Ngorongoro crater.
January is a great time for visiting the Ngorongoro Crater because it is breeding season for the wildebeest in the area. The herds have what is known as a mass calving on the green plains just outside the crater making for excellent photo opportunities of newborns struggling to get on their feet. The months of January and February fall between the two rainy seasons that the area experiences annually and these months can offer a dry spell between the short rains and long rains.
February is one of the drier months before the rains begin near the end of March in the crater. This is an excellent time for game viewing especially for predator sightings of lion and hyena preparing to hunt the abundant herds.
March is considered one of the best times to visit the Ngorongoro Crater to avoid the crowds and take advantage of reasonable rates. The long rains begin to fall near the end of March and continues into April and May transforming the crater into an emerald paradise.
June is one of the best times to visit the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The long rains have come to an end and game drives are relatively less crowded. Peak season for a safari in the Ngorongoro Crater only kicks off towards the end of June or in early July. The cooler weather is also ideal for climbing Kilimanjaro during this month which is a popular add-on to a Ngorongoro safari.
When visiting the Ngorongoro Crater, July and August fall within peak season and accommodation around the crater is generally quite full during these months. The reason why people flock from all over the world during the dry season is the visibility of wildlife along the barren plains and their high frequency visits to watering holes. This is the best period to see leopard, lion, rhino, buffalo and elephant all in one day.
September marks the start of spring though it falls under the very popular dry season in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The crater can be chilly at this time of year. The dry weather over the past few months leaves parts of the crater floor looking like a dusty bowl and turns the grasslands yellow.
October is a transitional time weather wise in the Ngorongoro Crater, as the beginning of the month is the height of the long dry season and the short rains begin just before November.
The Ngorongoro Crater is warm and occasionally wet during November and December. This is the period of the short rains but the rain occurs in short bursts usually as afternoon showers that rarely affect safaris. The first migrant birds arrive with the rainfall in November making this one of the best times to visit the Ngorongoro Crater for bird watching.
