Ngorongoro Crater

we spent a lovely day in the crater

I would highly recommend visiting Ngorongoro. Saw lots of birds- pelicans, storks, tons of hippos. The scenery is incredible, so unique. I think its a must see. You may see more animals out in the Maasai Mara and Serengeti this is a totally unique and worthwhile experience.

So many animals; such a unique place with so many ecosystems all contained in the crater.

Plenty of wildlife and a fantastic campsite. Loved every minute of it.

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.

The Real African Safari Experience.

I had my tour arranged African Spoonbill Tours and Safaris on a short notice. The tour company was extremely well organized which made a big impact on the entire Safari Experience.

Ngorongoro Crater was my last stop, however on my first day we did manage to get a glimpse of the crater from a height. The first thing that impressed me was the breath-taking scenery. The place made me feel like I was in Mongolia. As we started driving through the dirt road we managed to sight all the Big Fives in a couple of hours which was the highlight of the Safari. Among all the sights Ngorongoro us where I had the best experience.

One of a kind safari destination from the beginning to the end

The Ngorongoro Crater is a one of a kind safari destination from the beginning to the end.
We went with a personal safari driver by jeep with open rooftop. From the moment you drive into the park the experience begin as the road takes you up and up until you reach the top of the side of the crater. A viewpoint overlooking the entire crater was the first breathtaking view. From this viewpoint we spottet a couple of elephants and then we were ready to go down into the crater. On the way to the entry road into the crater we saw giraffes and Masai people with all their cattles (the live around the crater). Inside the crater we saw wildlife such as ostrichs, wilderbeasts, warthogs, zebras, baboons, elephants, hyenas, hippos, buffalos, jackals, antilopes and lions up close (and probably more i can't remember at the moment). We were even lucky to see two young male lions feasting on a buffalo at close range. In the distance we saw two black rhinos they are rare to see due to the low population in the park.
Most of the time we drove around observing the animals without any other safari jeeps around. They were visible in the horizon (since the landscape is mostly flat and at that time a year the vegetation is completely dry) and once in a while we crossed roads and at major attraction spots (like the lions feasting) we were several jeeps gathered.
Our tour operator had organized lunch for us, which we ate by a lake with hippos relaxing in the water.
Overall we are very satisfied with our safari experience in the Ngorongoro Crater and will recommend it.

The Ngorongoro Crater is such a amazing place.

What a trip!! I had the trip of a lifetime wich also was our honeymoon! It was the second time I visit Tanzania (I'll will be back) I am wishing I was still enjoying the warmth, fragrances, beauty, sights and sounds of Africa.

Asante sana!!

Fascinating!

This is a place where the animals do not migrate, and stay year round. Wildlife is plentiful, and the crater hosts some of the lasts rhinos in Tanzania. We were lucky enough to experience a lion hunt, hyenas at a carcass, and thousands of flamingos on the salt pans. You can take a hike around the rim of the crater through lush forests with breathtaking views. In the evening driving up to the lodge, mist dumps off the crater rim. If you can, get up before sunrise to make the best of your time, but it is chilly in the morning so bring extra layers. Never miss an opportunity to visit the crater.

The scenery was drop dead gorgeous however, there were too many cars in the crater and it made it look like a zoo.

Lions right alongside the vehicle! What a thrill!

Ngorongoro Crater
The crater is an outstanding place to see lions, hippos, a rhino. A great day! We saw several prides of lions next to the vehicle!
Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge. Beautiful room and lodge. Loved the choir at dinner. The dinner and breakfast food was good - lunch was poor. Although there was a Snickers bar in my specially-prepared box lunch labeled "No Peanuts," it didn't contain much nutrition: chips, a cookie, a wedge of cheese food, a cracker, and a slice of meat. These "box lunches" were uniformly poor throughout the tripNgorongoro Crater
Oldupai Gorge was worth a stop.
Our stop at the Maasai village was embarrassing.
What a joke. It is obvious that the people don't want you there and are doing it for the money. When you come in to start your tour - the tribe guide introduced himself as the chief's son and limited or choice of trinkets for purchase to his family's alone. He steered us away from any of the other 20 or so displays. The tribe members look very unhappy and back in the schoolroom, little 3-5 year olds are sitting at desks with little workbooks – containing multiplication tables - in front of them. One little girl was crying. On the blackboard is the alphabet and numbers and after the children recite in English they request a donation. The only good thing was that I was able to take photos of the people
If you’re going to be in a safari vehicle day after day traveling on rough roads, with biting flies and massive amounts of dust, a pleasant Guide with expert driving skills is appreciated. In locating wildlife, a sharp-eyed Guide is essential. In learning about the wildlife, a knowledgable Guide is welcome. And in consistently placing the vehicle in the best position among an untold number of others, in order to get the best photograph, a skillful driver is mandatory. Samson was expert in all these things, plus he was accommodating and possessed fine sense of humor.