Ngorongoro Crater

One of a kind safari destination from the beginning to the end

The Ngorongoro Crater is a one of a kind safari destination from the beginning to the end.
We went with a personal safari driver by jeep with open rooftop. From the moment you drive into the park the experience begin as the road takes you up and up until you reach the top of the side of the crater. A viewpoint overlooking the entire crater was the first breathtaking view. From this viewpoint we spottet a couple of elephants and then we were ready to go down into the crater. On the way to the entry road into the crater we saw giraffes and Masai people with all their cattles (the live around the crater). Inside the crater we saw wildlife such as ostrichs, wilderbeasts, warthogs, zebras, baboons, elephants, hyenas, hippos, buffalos, jackals, antilopes and lions up close (and probably more i can't remember at the moment). We were even lucky to see two young male lions feasting on a buffalo at close range. In the distance we saw two black rhinos they are rare to see due to the low population in the park.
Most of the time we drove around observing the animals without any other safari jeeps around. They were visible in the horizon (since the landscape is mostly flat and at that time a year the vegetation is completely dry) and once in a while we crossed roads and at major attraction spots (like the lions feasting) we were several jeeps gathered.
Our tour operator had organized lunch for us, which we ate by a lake with hippos relaxing in the water.
Overall we are very satisfied with our safari experience in the Ngorongoro Crater and will recommend it.

The Ngorongoro Crater is such a amazing place.

What a trip!! I had the trip of a lifetime wich also was our honeymoon! It was the second time I visit Tanzania (I'll will be back) I am wishing I was still enjoying the warmth, fragrances, beauty, sights and sounds of Africa.

Asante sana!!

Fascinating!

This is a place where the animals do not migrate, and stay year round. Wildlife is plentiful, and the crater hosts some of the lasts rhinos in Tanzania. We were lucky enough to experience a lion hunt, hyenas at a carcass, and thousands of flamingos on the salt pans. You can take a hike around the rim of the crater through lush forests with breathtaking views. In the evening driving up to the lodge, mist dumps off the crater rim. If you can, get up before sunrise to make the best of your time, but it is chilly in the morning so bring extra layers. Never miss an opportunity to visit the crater.

The scenery was drop dead gorgeous however, there were too many cars in the crater and it made it look like a zoo.

Lions right alongside the vehicle! What a thrill!

Ngorongoro Crater
The crater is an outstanding place to see lions, hippos, a rhino. A great day! We saw several prides of lions next to the vehicle!
Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge. Beautiful room and lodge. Loved the choir at dinner. The dinner and breakfast food was good - lunch was poor. Although there was a Snickers bar in my specially-prepared box lunch labeled "No Peanuts," it didn't contain much nutrition: chips, a cookie, a wedge of cheese food, a cracker, and a slice of meat. These "box lunches" were uniformly poor throughout the tripNgorongoro Crater
Oldupai Gorge was worth a stop.
Our stop at the Maasai village was embarrassing.
What a joke. It is obvious that the people don't want you there and are doing it for the money. When you come in to start your tour - the tribe guide introduced himself as the chief's son and limited or choice of trinkets for purchase to his family's alone. He steered us away from any of the other 20 or so displays. The tribe members look very unhappy and back in the schoolroom, little 3-5 year olds are sitting at desks with little workbooks – containing multiplication tables - in front of them. One little girl was crying. On the blackboard is the alphabet and numbers and after the children recite in English they request a donation. The only good thing was that I was able to take photos of the people
If you’re going to be in a safari vehicle day after day traveling on rough roads, with biting flies and massive amounts of dust, a pleasant Guide with expert driving skills is appreciated. In locating wildlife, a sharp-eyed Guide is essential. In learning about the wildlife, a knowledgable Guide is welcome. And in consistently placing the vehicle in the best position among an untold number of others, in order to get the best photograph, a skillful driver is mandatory. Samson was expert in all these things, plus he was accommodating and possessed fine sense of humor.

Excellent day at the start of a 9 day safari adventure

We arrived in time to have lunch overlooking the Ngorongoro Crater from our hotel. We were up before sunrise and set out to the gates. As the first vehicle into the crater, we instantly spotted a white rhino. From there we experienced the sunrise over the crater as we continued to see all the animals we had dreamed of seeing on safari, including lions finishing off a meal from the night before, elephants, ostriches, baboons. We had breakfast looking out over the hippo pool - very scenic and beautiful spot for a rest. Later on, we were fortunate to be able to see a serval cat hunting its prey. We headed back out of the crater in time for a late lunch. Prior to departure for the Serengeti, we enjoyed one last sunrise over the crater.

Breathtaking scenery with abundant wildlife and many stunning photographic opportunities

Ngorongoro crater is truly one of the wonders of the world. We stayed the night in the Serena lodge on the rim of the crater which was jaw-dropping spectacular. The view from our balcony was absolutely stunning. I woke early to catch the sunrise and enjoyed coffee sitting on the balcony listening to the sounds of the African night, Lions, Hyena, Elephant, and many more. The sunrise was amazing. I took many photos although none quite captured the moment.

Our game drive during the day was excellent even thought it started with a breakdown half-way down the steep road to the crater floor. This was a minor inconvenience and actually added to the adventure. The wildlife on the floor of the crater was everywhere. I had some great photo opportunities in the early morning light. At that time of year there were not too many tourists or vehicles. Our guide said that it is much busier in the high seasons. The day was wonderful and one that we will not soon forget. Eventually it was time to leave so we headed out of the crater to the Ngorongoro Farmhouse lodge. We really enjoyed our time at this lodge, relaxing by the pool and wandering around the exotic gardens of the grounds.

Breathtaking in every possible way

Even if you are unlucky enough to not see much wildlife, this park is totally worth it just for its scenery. Astounding landscapes, some of the flattest plains I've seen, and being surrounded by mountain cliffs everywhere gives the whole park a very different feeling from any other. But wildlife is also everywhere! WE got to see a great migration of wildebeest, zebras and buffaloes, herds that seemed to never end. The lions where just around the corner, keeping an eye on the herds, and we got to see them really, really up close. And so many other animals, it almost feels impossible to name them all!
A park I would highly recommend. If you can only see one park, choose this one!

The Crater is indeed one of the wonder of the world and spending just a day is not enough.

It is one of the most amazing, natural and scenic experience I have had. We had taken the services from Leopard tours and they are indeed the most professional touring company i have come across. Fantastic experience!!!

The crater is a world unto itself.

We stayed at Sopa Lodge. It was lovely. Good food, nice rooms, everyone was very nice. It was also close to the crater, letting us spend more time in the crater and less time on entrance roads. We saw a lot of wildlife in the crater, including a rhino (at a distance), and several lion kills. Our guide was with us for our entire safari; he was excellent. I would definitely put the crater on a "do not miss" list for anyone coming to Tanzania on a safari.