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António Mesquita
PT
Visited:
July 2014
Reviewed: May 23, 2015
Email António Mesquita | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
A truly magical experience, taking me hundreds of years back in time!
On waking up early the next morning, the whole place was covered in fog. The slow descend from the 2100m peak to the bottom set the pace followed by an increase in my heart beat from emotions and expectations. As the 4WD went down and the mist slowly faded away, a feeling of time travel to the past filled the atmosphere.
Surprisingly, the first animals spotted were cows, taken care by Maasai farmers. As explained by our guide, they manage to live in harmony with the predators in the crater (apparently the Maasai rub the bodies of the cattle with a smelly protective herb in order to keep lions away.) What a surprise to witness cows and wild predators living so close to each other.
As the vehicle drove along the caldera roads, wildlife popped up like popcorns. In fact, this place has one of the highest
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concentrations of wildlife in Africa.Roaming along we came across ostriches, buffalos, wildebeests, zebras, elephants and many different birds. These are cool animals for first time safaris but the interesting game was yet to come.
Lions were resting on the road and along the side of the road like true kings. Probably their last moments in the open before going away to rest for the day.
Lions are nocturnal and sleep up to 20 hours a day. One can tell they are nocturnal because the area below their eyes is white, just like leopards, to reflect moonlight. Cheetahs, on the other hand, hunt during the day and have black stripes to aid their vision.
We saw a lioness guiding her 4 cubs to safety in the tall grass before leaving for a hunt. It was impossible to tell where the cubs were just moments after their mother left them. We didn't follow the hunt and continued roaming in this nostalgic and amazing reserve until after lunch.
A truly magical time travelling experience, the ancient caldera definitely lives up to its name.
A must see.
Andy
GB
Visited:
October 2012
Reviewed: May 5, 2015
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great, but a little crowded
The Ngorongoro Crater has some fantastic wildlife and because of the enclosed nature of the crater, good sighting are almost guaranteed. We saw lots of Africa's large animals including lions and hyenas; however this inevitably brings in large numbers of people. This meant there was a slight safari park feel to the experience that took the edge off slightly. Also we went in October because we want to climb Kilimanjaro, which I don't think is the best time to see the park. Everything was quite dry and dusty. Despite this, the feeling of being the crater is incredible and not something I have experienced anywhere else in the world.
rwcm47
NL
Visited:
March 2015
Reviewed: May 5, 2015
Email rwcm47 | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
It was FANTASTIC.
We came from Lake Manyara and the Serengeti. It was overwhelming. And now we met as a bonus the hippo's with a baby (from 10 meters) and the rino. Fantastic scenery, all that animals walking in the crater. Excellent hotel (Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge).
safarist
CH
Visited:
July 2014
Reviewed: May 4, 2015
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Incredible view while entering the Ngorongoro crater
Ngorongoro crater is a speciale place to visit. You can enter early in the morning and stay just a few hours but it's a unique place, full of animals and with a very special environment and scenic surrounding mountains.
Justin
CA
Visited:
November 2014
Reviewed: Apr 28, 2015
Email Justin | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Excellent destination for spotting wildlife. It has one of the highest concentrations of lions around and I certainly saw quite a few. It tends to feel a bit like a zoo in my opinion, as it is all enclosed within the 'crater', and the land cruisers feel like they're on a set track weaving through it like a Jurassic Park ride in Hollywood studios. It's not my favourite, but if you have a long focal length Canon L lens, this is your place to shine. Prop it on a beanie and start shooting keepers.
Cindy B.
CA
Visited:
January 2015
Reviewed: Apr 23, 2015
Email Cindy B. | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Smaller area to cover - especially after being in parks like the Serengeti, but there is no need to search for wildlife! At the time of our visit, it was a bit more crowded with tourists than what we had encountered in other parks. The drive into and out of the crater is worth the visit alone! Amazing!
Mieke Verschueren, Belgium
BE
Visited:
November 2014
Reviewed: Apr 20, 2015
Email Mieke Verschueren, Belgium | 65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Justin
Visited:
October 2014
Reviewed: Apr 16, 2015
Good, but very crowded with other jeeps. Didn't feel as 'wild' as the serengeti. This park was nice but didn't quite live up to our expectations.
Jeroen
NL
Visited:
August 2014
Reviewed: Apr 16, 2015
Email Jeroen | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The crater is a really beautiful natural sight. From the rim but also inside the crater. We saw lots of Lions, Elephants, Buffallo's, Zebras, Giraffes, Wildebeest and many other animals. It was a bit disappointing the Rhino and its calf were so far away though. But then the spoiled me is talking. It was great and everybody should go there if you have the chance!
T Sharp
Visited:
August 2012
Reviewed: Jul 29, 2013
It is hard to go to Tanzania, and not see the Ngorongoro Crater. Though it can sometimes be crowded during high season, it is such a famous destination, and is a must see at some point or another. It has breathtaking vistas, and the terrain is unmatched. It is also a treat to see the native Maasai in their element, going about their business as you traverse through the area. Wonderful place.