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3-Day Ngorongoro Crater Safari Tours
You’ll find it very easy to fall in love with Ngorongoro Crater and the surrounding area on a 3-day safari. Wedged between Lake Manyara and the Serengeti, this jewel of northern Tanzania’s Crater Highlands is an experience like no other. A hidden world of wildlife set within a unique landscape deep within the lands of the Maasai: what more could you wish for? With 3 days to enjoy this special place, you devote it all to Ngorongoro, or you could make it the centerpiece of a safari that touches on one of the other nearby parks. However you organize it, Ngorongoro is a 3-day experience you’ll never forget.
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Best Seller
3-Day Luxury Private Safari Serengeti & Ngorongoro
$1,295 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tour
Mid-range Lodge & Tented CampYou Visit: Arusha (Start), Serengeti NP, Central Serengeti NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Arusha (End)
Mountain Warriors Tours and Safaris
5.0/5 – 576 Reviews
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3-Day Tanzania Mid-Range Honeymooners Fly-in Safari
$1,785 to $1,885 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tour
Mid-range Lodge & Tented CampYou Visit: Zanzibar (Start), Central Serengeti NP, Serengeti NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Zanzibar (End)
Go Serengeti African Tours
4.9/5 – 594 Reviews
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3-Day Jewels of Tanzania - Mid-Range
$1,490 to $1,880 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tour
Mid-range Lodge & Tented CampYou Visit: Arusha (Start), Serengeti NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Arusha (End)
Soul of Tanzania
5.0/5 – 552 Reviews
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3-Day Fly in Safari from Arusha
$1,760 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tour
Mid-range Lodge & Tented CampYou Visit: Arusha (Start), Serengeti NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Arusha (End)
Safari Soles
5.0/5 – 544 Reviews
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![3-Day Group Tour to Serengeti & Ngorongoro]()
3-Day Group Tour to Serengeti & Ngorongoro
$601 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Shared tour (max 7 people per vehicle)BudgetCamping
You Visit: Arusha (Start), Serengeti NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Arusha (End)
Suricata Safaris
5.0/5 – 3,618 Reviews
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![3-Day Wildlife and Cultural Experience in Tanzania]()
3-Day Wildlife and Cultural Experience in Tanzania
$1,071 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tour
Mid-range LodgeYou Visit: Arusha (Start), Tarangire NP, Lake Eyasi, Ngorongoro Crater, Arusha (End)
Serengeti Smile
5.0/5 – 1,171 Reviews
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![3-Day Tarangire, Ngorongoro & Mt Kilimanjaro Adventure]()
3-Day Tarangire, Ngorongoro & Mt Kilimanjaro Adventure
$750 to $805 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Shared tour (max 7 people per vehicle)BudgetLodge & Hotel
You Visit: Arusha (Start), Tarangire NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Mt Kilimanjaro, Arusha (End)
Go Makini Tanzania Expedition
4.9/5 – 157 Reviews
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![3-Day Serengeti and Crater Midrange Private Safari]()
3-Day Serengeti and Crater Midrange Private Safari
$1,265 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tour
Mid-range Lodge & Tented CampYou Visit: Arusha (Start), Central Serengeti NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Arusha (End)
Ozon Light Tours
5.0/5 – 447 Reviews
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![3-Day Tour Getaway with Hot Balloon for Honeymooners]()
3-Day Tour Getaway with Hot Balloon for Honeymooners
$1,785 to $1,835 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tour
Mid-range Lodge & Tented CampYou Visit: Arusha (Start), Tarangire NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Arusha (End)
Josh Dreamland Safari
4.9/5 – 100 Reviews
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![3-Day Awesome Luxury Serengeti and Ngorongoro Safari]()
3-Day Awesome Luxury Serengeti and Ngorongoro Safari
$1,572 to $1,595 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tourLuxuryTented Camp
You Visit: Arusha (Start), Serengeti NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Arusha (End)
Amshar Serengeti Adventures
5.0/5 – 226 Reviews
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![3-Day Safari from Zanzibar, Tarangire Ngorongoro Manyara]()
3-Day Safari from Zanzibar, Tarangire Ngorongoro Manyara
$1,502 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tour
Mid-range LodgeYou Visit: Zanzibar (Start), Tarangire NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara NP, Zanzibar (End)
Ndutu Green Explorers
5.0/5 – 205 Reviews
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![3-Day Serengeti National Park & Ngorongoro Best Safari]()
3-Day Serengeti National Park & Ngorongoro Best Safari
$1,301 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tour
Mid-range Lodge & Tented CampYou Visit: Arusha (Start), Serengeti NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Arusha (End)
Serengeti Silence
5.0/5 – 135 Reviews
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![3-Day Safari of Giants & Crater Wonders]()
3-Day Safari of Giants & Crater Wonders
$854 to $921 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tour
Mid-range Lodge & Tented CampYou Visit: Arusha (Start), Tarangire NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara NP, Arusha (End)
Shemeji Safari
4.7/5 – 301 Reviews
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![3-Day Tarangire, Ngorongoro & Manyara Best Tour & Safari]()
3-Day Tarangire, Ngorongoro & Manyara Best Tour & Safari
$1,023 to $1,035 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tourBudgetHotel
You Visit: Arusha (Start), Tarangire NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara NP, Arusha (End)
Full Package Adventures
5.0/5 – 441 Reviews
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![3-Day Private Camping Safari to Serengeti & Ngorongoro]()
3-Day Private Camping Safari to Serengeti & Ngorongoro
$1,307 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tourBudgetCamping
You Visit: Arusha (Start), Serengeti NP, Ngorongoro Highlands, Ngorongoro Crater, Arusha (End)
Lekobe Adventures Safaris
5.0/5 – 116 Reviews
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![3-Day Safari Tarangire/Lake Manyara & Ngorongoro Crater]()
3-Day Safari Tarangire/Lake Manyara & Ngorongoro Crater
$1,056 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tour
Mid-range LodgeYou Visit: Arusha (Start), Tarangire NP, Lake Manyara NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Arusha (End)
Serengeti Green Tanzania
4.9/5 – 247 Reviews
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![3-Day Private Mid Range Wild Wonder in Tanzania]()
3-Day Private Mid Range Wild Wonder in Tanzania
$1,727 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tour
Mid-range Tented CampYou Visit: Arusha (Start), Serengeti NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Arusha (End)
Gamedrive Travel Africa Safari Agency
5.0/5 – 743 Reviews
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![3-Day Ultimate Tanzania Cultural & Wilderness Adventure]()
3-Day Ultimate Tanzania Cultural & Wilderness Adventure
$1,147 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tour
Mid-range LodgeYou Visit: Arusha (Start), Tarangire NP, Lake Eyasi, Ngorongoro Crater, Arusha (End)
Highneck Safaris
4.9/5 – 29 Reviews
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![3-Day Safari Zanzibar , Tarangire , Ngorongoro , Materun]()
3-Day Safari Zanzibar , Tarangire , Ngorongoro , Materun
$1,144 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tourBudgetLodge & Guest House
You Visit: Zanzibar (Start), Tarangire NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Zanzibar (End)
Greg Adventures
4.7/5 – 57 Reviews
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![3-Day Tanzania Safari - Tarangire, Ngorongoro & Manyara]()
3-Day Tanzania Safari - Tarangire, Ngorongoro & Manyara
$1,073 to $1,190 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tour
Mid-range LodgeYou Visit: Arusha (Start), Tarangire NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara NP, Arusha (End)
Wild Pride Safaris
5.0/5 – 33 Reviews
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5 Questions About 3-Day Ngorongoro Crater Safaris
Answered by
Anthony Ham
Anthony is a writer and author of nearly 150 Lonely Planet guidebooks, including Kenya, Tanzania and East Africa. He writes about safaris, Ngorongoro and the wider region for magazines and newspapers around the world. He is also the author of The Last Lions of Africa.› More about Anthony
5 Questions About 3-Day Ngorongoro Crater Safaris
Anthony Ham
What can I expect from a 3-day trip including the Ngorongoro Crater?
“A 3-day tour that includes the Ngorongoro Crater means that you will have 2 nights and at least 1 full day to enjoy what Ngorongoro has to offer. The first day will include your transfer here: hopefully it happens early in the day so that you can devote the rest of the day to the places you came so far to see. The same applies to the third day of your safari. Day three is when you’ll be transferred back to where you started from (or wherever you’re going next). Try and arrange for a late-afternoon departure in order to enjoy as much of the day as possible. With all of this in mind, you can expect to spend a day (either the second or third day) down in the crater enjoying the landscapes and looking for wildlife that includes black rhino, lion, elephant, flamingo and a whole lot more. The rest of your time will likely be spent exploring the crater rim (there are hiking trails through the forest), visiting a Maasai village, or simply relaxing at your accommodation and taking in the view.”
1What are the lodges like at the Ngorongoro Crater?
“There is no accommodation down on the crater floor: no one, not even the Maasai, is allowed to spend the night there. This means that you have two main possibilities when it comes to accommodation. Most lodges are high on the crater rim. Many of the best places sit right by the edge, and have incredible views out over Ngorongoro Crater (from some of the rooms and from many of the public areas) as a result. Others on the crater rim are set a little further back and may not have views, although many of these are excellent places to stay nonetheless. Another option is to stay down the hill from Ngorongoro, just off the road that connects the crater with Karatu, Lake Manyara and beyond. There are many options in the town of Karatu itself, but the best places are in the forests closer to Ngorongoro. Some occupy old colonial homesteads and/or farms or coffee estates, and are classy places to stay.”
2Which activities are available on a 3-day safari including the Ngorongoro Crater?
“The main activity when you’re visiting Ngorongoro is a guided game drive down into the crater. This usually involves a dawn start, driving down one of the three access roads into the crater and spending the best part of the day looking for wildlife and enjoying the varied scenery. Many such excursions include a picnic lunch. There is an official six-hour time limit for vehicles to be down in the crater, although this is rarely enforced. Either way, you’ll likely be back up on the crater rim at your accommodation by mid- to late afternoon. Other possible activities include hiking the forest trails around the rim and visiting a Maasai village. You might also explore a little further afield by visiting another park, one of the other craters (e.g., Olmoti Crater) in the Crater Highlands, or even the Olduvai (Oldupai) Gorge and Museum (which is off the road to the Serengeti).”
3How can I avoid the crowds when visiting the Ngorongoro Crater?
“It can be difficult to avoid other safari-goers in Ngorongoro Crater: everyone who comes to Ngorongoro is here for the same reason. You could come outside of high season (which is July to March), although you run the risk of being caught up in the rains in April or May. June can be an excellent, slightly quieter month to visit. Two factors also contribute to making sure that crowds don’t spoil your experience of this wonderful place. One is that while you have plenty of choice when it comes to places to stay around Ngorongoro, the actual number of accommodation places is far fewer than you find in many other northern Tanzanian destinations. There’s also something about Ngorongoro: apart from the occasional lion kill when every vehicle descends on the scene, the crater is large enough so that it never feels too crowded.”
4How much does a 3-day Ngorongoro Crater safari cost?
“A 3-day Ngorongoro safari begins at around US$150 per person per day for the cheapest budget camping safari (where you’ll sleep in simple tents and may be asked to help out around camp). If you’re looking for an all-inclusive luxury safari experience with five-star lodge or tented camp accommodation, then prices will begin close to US$500 and can go much higher. Aside from accommodation, the season in which you travel may also influence the price. That said, high season runs for much of the year (July to March) and the difference here between high- and low-season prices is usually less than it is elsewhere. Another thing that impacts the cost of a safari is the type of safari you go on: a group safari will cost less than a private safari (where you have the guide, vehicle and driver all to yourself).”
5Ngorongoro Crater Reviews
Tim is a travel writer who has covered 10 African countries for Lonely Planet's Africa, East Africa and West Africa guidebooks.
The best scenery and best chance to see rhinos in Tanzania
At 19km across and up to 600m deep, Ngorongoro Crater is one of the largest unbroken calderas in the world, and the view from above is one of the most stunning vistas in Africa. It’s one of the few places I've visited where seeing...
Sue is an award-winning writer who specializes in African travel and conservation. She writes for national newspapers, magazines, Rough Guides and Lonely Planet.
Life in the Caldera
I felt completely spellbound on my first trip to Ngorongoro Crater. The rim was shrouded in cloud but as we descended the 600 metres down to the crater floor, this vast caldera opened up before our eyes absolutely teeming with animals – a...
SG
Descending into the Ngorongoro Crater is mind-blowing! It’s the world's biggest unbroken volcanic bowl, and because it's enclosed, it holds thousands of animals in one spot. You get gorgeous scenery and a fantastic chance to see the large...
There's lots of wildlife in the crater and lots of it remains there, thanks to difficulties escaping the crater. This leads to lots of in-breeding, particularly among the lions. Lots of tourists so its difficult to imagine it's just you and...
CN
Title: A Prehistoric Arena and Boaz’s Eagle Eye Descending into the Ngorongoro Crater is like stepping into a prehistoric amphitheater. The concentration of wildlife here is staggering, but the true highlight was witnessing Boaz's...
Beautiful place and potentially full of opportunities to spot wildlife if it wasn't that there were over 50 vehicles at close distance from one another at all times driving around in the middle of the day so wildlife was very far away when...