Tanzania · Safari

12-Hour Ngorongoro Crater Safari from Arusha with Big Five Viewing

12 Hours Round trip from Arusha Easy pace

View of the crater pool at Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Have lunch near the pool and enjoy spectacular views

The journey

Trip highlights

01 Experience the best game viewing in Africa at the Ngorongoro Crater
02 Descend into the world's largest intact volcanic caldera
03 Spot the Big 5 along with wildebeest, zebra, and gazelles
04 Enjoy blue-green vistas and scenic views of Mto Wa Mbu town

Drive from Arusha for a day safari through the highland plains and savannah woodlands of the Ngorongoro Crater. Descend into the world's largest intact volcanic caldera for adventurous game drives with a strong chance of spotting the Big 5 and a dense population of other wildlife species. Along the way, enjoy the blue-green vistas of the crater and beautiful scenic views of Mto Wa Mbu town on the return to Arusha.

Look out for hyenas, elephants, elands, hartebeests, and the Big 5, among several other wild animals.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 12 Hours

Tour type Shared

Activity level Easy

Accommodation Not included

Transport Included

Wheelchair access Not applicable

Cities Arusha, Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Languages English

Day by day

The itinerary

Day 01

Ngorongoro Crater Game Drive from Arusha

You will be picked up around 5:00 or 5:30 am from your hotel or accommodation in Arusha. Drive for about 3 hours towards the Ngorongoro Crater and stop at Karatu for complimentary breakfast. You can also shop at the mini-shops in Karatu town.
After the stop, you will head straight to the crater and begin your game drive. The Ngorongoro Crater, the world's largest intact volcanic caldera, is also referred to as the "8th Wonder of the World" because it offers one of the best game-viewing experiences in Africa.
Have a picnic lunch and then descend into the crater to spot wildlife species. Look out for hyenas, elephants, elands, hartebeests, and the Big 5, among several other wild animals.
After the game drive, head back to the pick-up point in Arusha while taking in the beautiful scenic views of Mto Wa Mbu town.

End of the tour.

Where this trip takes you

Ngorongoro Crater, Karatu mini-shops, Mto Wa Mbu town vistas

The route

Where you'll travel

Tour route map — Round trip from Arusha 2 cities · 12 Hours

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

Lunch
Bottled water and soft drinks
4*4 open-roof safari vehicle
Park entrance fees and government taxes

What's Not Included

Health insurance and medical evacuation
Any other transfers not specified in the itinerary
Tips and porterage for guides
Items of a personal nature

Know before you go

This is a joining tour with pick-up and drop-off from your hotel or accommodation in Arusha, so the itinerary is mostly not fixed. The safari in the Ngorongoro Crater is done only in a 4*4 open-roof safari vehicle, but for transfers, you may be picked up or dropped off either in a 4*4 safari vehicle or in a minivan transfer vehicle.
The Ngorongoro Day Tour is the only short tour where most tourists have a big chance to see all of the Big Five (5). Pick-up and drop-off are usually done in minivans and small cars and depend on the group you are joining, so expect either to travel alone or share with other tourists like yourself. If you need more clarification about this tour, it is best to contact us before booking. Private tour if the booking has 5 people or more.

Logistics