Average User Rating
Rating Breakdown
Write a User Review
Hari L Ratan
IN
Visited:
February 2016
Reviewed: Mar 18, 2016
Email Hari L Ratan | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Easy wildlife spotting and in quick succession
Within a few minutes of entering the Crater we were rewarded with a sighting of a Serval cat, which according to our driver is not rare but difficult to spot. Then started a series of spottings, rhinos, elephants, gazelles, hyenas, lions, kori bustards, wildebeests, ape buffalos and many birds.
If in a short while one wants a taste of African wildlife then one must visit the Ngorongoro crater.
Go there early in the morning and take in the wonderful landscape in the early morning sun. The landscape changes with every minutes with the sun changing the quality of light swiftly.
Read more
In a couple of hours and after more than 20 minutes with the black rhinos we decided to drive over to Ngoitokitok Springs for our breakfast, Ngoitokitok means a bubbly spring and this is a great spot to spend some time watching the Hippos grunting, coming close to the shore and staying away at a respectful distance. Weaver and other birds coming over to share your food, the ducks making noise all add to the wonder of this place. A drive to Lake Magadi to watch the flamingos though from a distance and at the same time watch the numerous mammals that graze there will make one believe that this a Garden of Eden.
The walls of the crater offer a great background for photographing the animals here in the open crater and this along with the quality of light make it a photographers delight.
No visit to Tanzania can be complete without a visit to Ngorongoro crater.
Mildred Theunisz
NL
Visited:
July 2015
Reviewed: Feb 21, 2016
Email Mildred Theunisz | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
It is a natural wonder, but we found that the wildlife was less overwhelming than in Serengeti and Tarangire. We spotted a rhino far away. But hey, we can tick the box of the Big 5. Certainly a wonder that you want to visit. But one day is enough.
Muntaka Chasant
A once in a lifetime experience that makes me wish I'm back on the caldera floor everyday.
It was an excellent safari drive on the caldera floor, and to our surprise, we bumped into a zebra with a hump like a camel. The Mirror (online) UK and Solent News carried this story. The floor of the crater is littered with zebras running and playing, hyenas, lioness and several other species. We even spotted a black rhino!
Overall, it was an amazing experience that I recommend to every wildlife enthusiast.
Great to visit for a day
The Ngorongoro Crater is a beautiful, Garden of Eden-like park where lots of wildlife lives together in the relatively small crater. It is the place to spot a rhino. Be sure to be there early in the morning when the gate opens to beat the crowds.
K Snow
US
Visited:
January 2016
Reviewed: Jan 17, 2016
Email K Snow | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Best chance at seeing a rhino
The crater is a must-see destination for it's overall beauty and number of animals in such a compact location. But more importantly, it is your best chance at seeing the black rhino in the wild. We saw two of the 20+ rhinos that reside in the crater. Compared to the Serengeti, where we saw none, this is your best chance. Another interesting surprise is the Maasai herding cattle in the crater. It is quite a contrast to see the wild herd animals aside the cattle.
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.
Critidoc
US
Visited:
May 2015
Reviewed: Nov 16, 2015
Email Critidoc | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
First time not in a private concession
Abundant wildlife sometimes not as close as you would like. Due to the rules of staying on the road, it was luck of the draw if the animals came close. We did see lots of black rhino, wildebeast, zebray, giraffe, elephants and hippos, few lions in the distance and solitary hyenas. Lots of birds byr could not get close to the flocks of flamingos . It became crowded with tourists as the day progressed with the best sightings early in the morning. We were lucky in that we stayed on the crater rim close to the entrance to the crater floor. the lodge was great.
Very interesting location - but very crowded with aggressive safari operators
The scenery was awesome - and there were a ton of animals, however after coming from the Tarangire, I was disappointed with a few things. First, there were more people in this small crater floor than there were in the entire Tarangire national park. Second, the safari operators on the floor were very aggressive with the animals. People were driving after lions as they tried to cross a road - blocking them from their prey. At one point a lion tried to move to a watering hole, and cars kept moving in front of her to get pictures until she turned around.
I don't think this is a problem with the crater specifically - just the number of people allowed in at once without any ranger support system to keep them in check leads itself to an environment that is not centered around what is best for the animals.
Lynne
US
Visited:
August 2015
Reviewed: Sep 12, 2015
Email Lynne | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
I had heard there was so much wildlife congregated in the crater but felt I saw more in other parks. Maybe it was the time of year, as we visited in the winter.
Simone
IT
Visited:
July 2015
Reviewed: Aug 7, 2015
Email Simone | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
we were a bit unlucky .. it was a bit cloudy and cold .. not too many cats but a lot a lot of wildebeast and buffaloes .. we might give it another try coming back from Serengeti as it is on the way!!