The review below is the personal opinion of ~lustedtowander~ and not that of SafariBookings.
3 / 5
3
/5
4 / 5
1 / 5
4 / 5
/ 5
The animals are there, in one compact space. And so are the people. But it is quite unique - the early morning drive to the crater rim is often foggy and wet, and the steep descent an adventure itself. If your time is brief, and you crave instant animal gratification, go here. If you have more time and the inclination - make the bumpy, dusty drive to Olduvai Gorge, request Lucas as your guide, and revel in hominid history.
A warning: There is a fee to enter the Ngorongoro Conservation area. You must pay again if you want to go into the Ngorongoro Crater. And you must pay again to enter the Serengeti. This traveler thinks that is too much paying.
John Carthy
GB
Visited:
August 2008
Reviewed: Feb 1, 2012
Amazing park with fantastic wildlife, easily reached from the pleasant town of Arusha. This means it is packed with safari vehicles. But then anywhere good is going to be busy nowadays, isn't it? Goes hand in hand with the Serengeti - you can't go to one without visiting the other. Rivals the Mara and Kruger as one of the greatest parks in Africa.
John CarthyVisited:
August 2008
Reviewed: Feb 1, 2012
5 / 5
5
/5
5 / 5
3 / 5
5 / 5
5 / 5
Amazing park with fantastic wildlife, easily reached from the pleasant town of Arusha. This means it is packed with safari vehicles. But then anywhere good is going to be busy nowadays, isn't it? Goes hand in hand with the Serengeti - you can't go to one without visiting the other. Rivals the Mara and Kruger as one of the greatest parks in Africa.
Johan Gardelius
SE
Visited:
November 2007
Reviewed: Jan 26, 2012
Ngorongoro is speactacular as a formation, but the wildlife we encountered was not that great. But the poverall impression, coming down into the caldera, was magnificent!
gem and stu
GB
Visited:
February 2008
Reviewed: Oct 26, 2011
20-35 years of age
5 / 5
5
/5
5 / 5
5 / 5
5 / 5
5 / 5
Just awesome!
Ron van de Leijgraaf
NL
Visited:
June 2011
Reviewed: Oct 2, 2011
The crater is really very special and a must see on your safari trip. The rest of the area is certainly nice as well, but parts are primarily used for moving up to the Serengeti. Closer to the Serengeti, you really get the bush vibe back.
DennisK
US
Visited:
January 2011
Reviewed: Sep 22, 2011
65+ years of age
5 / 5
5
/5
5 / 5
4 / 5
5 / 5
5 / 5
This is a must see destination! The view of the crater from above allows you to digest all the geological information you will read and that the guide will tell you. It is also a natural zoo, rich with water and vegetation that supports many wildlife.
Ezequiel
AR
Visited:
August 2010
Reviewed: Sep 9, 2011
20-35 years of age
5 / 5
5
/5
5 / 5
2 / 5
5 / 5
3 / 5
Regarding wildlife, it´s the most exciting place I´ve ever seen. It´s PACKED with wonderful wildlife. We even saw a lion hunting down a zebra. Downside to this are the crowds of people (cars go in a queue at times, and car-jams may occur if there´s some must-see and the notice runs fast) and exhorbitant entry fees. No chance to camp inside, so you can´t really get a feel of the vibe of the place. Anyway, you cant miss it.
duybeck
US
Visited:
July 2011
Reviewed: Aug 29, 2011
20-35 years of age
Male lions, Rhino's, Hyenas Galore!
4 / 5
4
/5
5 / 5
4 / 5
3 / 5
4 / 5
The drive to the crater is beautiful. Once inside, its not a scenic, but the wildlife is plenteous! I've been on a few safaris', and have never had male & female lions (hyenas, etc) walk up to our safari vehicles as they do in Ngorongoro. We could practically pet the lions! They look soo peaceful! If we hadn't seen a kill the day earlier, the lions' beautiful expressions and calm demeanor would have lulled us into a sense of naitivity!
Summer months are good - as the animals have to return to the parks and conservation areas for water (because the rainy season has ended). Weather is also stellar.
Picking a good tour operator is important. Ngorongoro crater is pretty open, so its easier to see safari vehicles conglomerate together. But if you're in the other parks, an experienced safari driver is highly recommended. Within 3 hours of one park, by God's grace (and we attribute this to prayer!), we say 2 sets of lions eating
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zebra, wiildebeast, and saw a lionness kill another wildebeast! We met a group that evening that didn't see any lions! We highly recommend Kilidove Tours. His team is not only highly knowledgeable (and they teach you their wisdom!), the owner grew up as an orphan and supports 4 - 5 orphans in their schooling! So you're not only getting the best tour company, but supporting a great organization. Its important, and you'll see this, that the operator understands the animals habits and how to maximize your photography experience.
GermanyMike
DE
Visited:
July 2009
Reviewed: Aug 23, 2011