Short trip 2 days, 1 night Private vehicle Customisable

2-Day Ngorongoro Crater

Two thousand feet down, twenty kilometres across, and roughly twenty-five thousand large animals living in it. You need one full morning down there, and this trip gives you exactly that.

The Ngorongoro highlands seen across a crater-floor lake, a dense bank of cloud spilling over the rim like a waterfall and green marsh grass lining the shore.

At a glance

Key facts for the 2-Day Ngorongoro Crater
Length2 days, 1 night
RegionNgorongoro Conservation Area
GroupPrivate vehicle, maximum 6 guests
PaceEasy, with one very early start for the descent.
Best seasonAll year. Clearest June to October.
FromUS$890 per person, sharing

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Why this one

  • A full morning on the crater floor, not a rushed two hours.
  • The best remaining chance in Tanzania of seeing black rhino.
  • Rim lodge, so you are at the descent road when it opens.
  • Works as a standalone trip or bolted onto any Serengeti itinerary.

Change anything on this page

The itinerary below is how we would run it if you left it to us. Add a night, drop a park, fly a leg, slow the pace, move the dates — tell us and we will re-cost it, free.

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Day by day

The itinerary, honestly described

Driving times are real, not optimistic.

  1. Day01

    Arusha to the crater rim

    We collect you at 08:00 and climb through Mto wa Mbu and the Rift escarpment, reaching the rim by early afternoon. The first view of the caldera arrives without warning and is worth the drive on its own. Afternoon at leisure on the rim.

    Approx. 4 hours' drivingRim viewpointOvernight on the rim

  2. Day02

    Crater floor, then home

    Down the Seneto descent road at first light with breakfast in the vehicle. We work the Lerai forest, the Munge stream and the Lake Magadi shore — the floor holds lion, elephant, hippo and the crater's remaining black rhino. Up the Lemala road before the midday crowds, then back to Arusha.

    06:30 descentFull morning on the floorArusha by approx. 18:00

What is included

  • Private 4x4 Land Cruiser with pop-up roof and your guide
  • One night on the crater rim, full board
  • Park, crater service and conservation fees
  • Flying-doctor evacuation cover

What is not

  • International flights and Tanzanian visa
  • Travel insurance (a condition of booking)
  • Drinks and tips

When to come

Month by month

Peak Good Green season — fewer vehicles, some rain

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Want this trip, but different?

Say what you would change and we will send a revised itinerary and price within one business day. Enquiring costs nothing.