Cookie Settings

By clicking ‘Accept’ you agree that we use Analytical cookies for gathering information about how our website is used, as well as Advertising and social media cookies (including cookies from trusted partners) to personalize our advertising campaigns and to allow you to share on social media. About our use of cookies

Manage Cookie Settings

Please select which cookies you would like to keep switched on. Open a list of all cookies

Functional cookies

Always on

Functional cookies are essential to using our website and cannot be switched off.

Show Hide description

Analytical cookies (anonymous)

On Off

Analytical cookies gather anonymous information about how our website is used. The information collected is not used for advertising purposes.

Show Hide description

Advertising and social media cookies

On Off

Advertising and social cookies (including cookies from trusted partners) enable us to personalize our advertising campaigns, and enable you to share on social media.

Show Hide description

Ngorongoro Crater

Getting There

Expert

By Philip Briggs

Philip is the author of the Bradt guidebook to Tanzania.

Most people will visit the Ngorongoro Conservation Area as part of a bigger package, including a visit to the Serengeti. Conveniently, the conservation area lies en route and is only a three-hour drive on tarred road from the town of Arusha, the starting point of all safaris in northern Tanzania.

From Arusha, you can hop around the parks of the northern circuit by small aircraft on chartered or scheduled flights, or you can drive and do the whole circuit by safari vehicle. A popular option is to fly into the Serengeti and make your way back by safari vehicle via the Ngorongoro Crater, or the other way around. In most cases, your tour operator will pick you up from the airport.

Coming from the Seronera area in the Serengeti, the distance to the crater is about 140km/90mi and the driving time is about three hours. This can obviously take much longer allowing for wildlife viewing along the way. The 80km/50mi drive from Lake Manyara to the Ngorongoro Crater takes about two hours, and the 180km/110mi drive from Tarangire takes about four hours.

The best option to get to Arusha is to fly into Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), which is situated about 46km/29mi from Arusha. It is also possible to fly into Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR), near Dar es Salaam and fly on to Arusha Airport (ARK) or Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO).

3,182 Ngorongoro Crater Safaris

Airlines & Ticket Prices

Please check Skyscanner to see which airlines can take you to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) or Arusha Airport (ARK), and what tickets would cost.

www.skyscanner.com

Domestic Flights

Charter flights between parks are typically booked by tour operators as part of the safari tour. Domestic flights can be booked with several carriers: