Ngorongoro Crater

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.

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!

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.

Good but not excelent.

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!

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.

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.

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).

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.

Very satisfied

Well I am sure a lot has been written about Ngorongoro and the safari trips within the crater. It is hard to imagine that such a vast wildlife sanctuary exists so close to human settlements. Once you descend into the crater all signs of human life are left behind except for the local people. It is truly a breath taking site once you are descending the crater and actually within the boundary. I am going to write this review from a photographic perspective.
Most people are interested in the wildlife. As far as that is concerned it is a mixed bag. Lions are plenty but depending on where they are in the crater they can be hard to find and photograph. I am not sure if there are leopards or cheetahs in the crater, but we never saw.
There are definitely a lot of grazers and interaction between the predators and prey can be fascinating if it is close to the road otherwise the action may be too far away. You can get very close to Cape Buffalo, Wildebeest, Zebras and of-course African Elephants.
From a birding perspective be on the look out as you descend the crater early in the morning. There is a vast diversity of avian life form and they are not shy at all. The accommodations surrounding the Crater are truly amazing for the most part. As far as I am concerned every time I go to Tanzania, I always make a stop at the crater.