Ngorongoro Crater

Just awesome!

The crater is really very special and a must see on your safari trip. The rest of the area is certainly nice as well, but parts are primarily used for moving up to the Serengeti. Closer to the Serengeti, you really get the bush vibe back.

This is a must see destination! The view of the crater from above allows you to digest all the geological information you will read and that the guide will tell you. It is also a natural zoo, rich with water and vegetation that supports many wildlife.

Regarding wildlife, it´s the most exciting place I´ve ever seen. It´s PACKED with wonderful wildlife. We even saw a lion hunting down a zebra. Downside to this are the crowds of people (cars go in a queue at times, and car-jams may occur if there´s some must-see and the notice runs fast) and exhorbitant entry fees. No chance to camp inside, so you can´t really get a feel of the vibe of the place. Anyway, you cant miss it.

Male lions, Rhino's, Hyenas Galore!

The drive to the crater is beautiful. Once inside, its not a scenic, but the wildlife is plenteous! I've been on a few safaris', and have never had male & female lions (hyenas, etc) walk up to our safari vehicles as they do in Ngorongoro. We could practically pet the lions! They look soo peaceful! If we hadn't seen a kill the day earlier, the lions' beautiful expressions and calm demeanor would have lulled us into a sense of naitivity!

Summer months are good - as the animals have to return to the parks and conservation areas for water (because the rainy season has ended). Weather is also stellar.

Picking a good tour operator is important. Ngorongoro crater is pretty open, so its easier to see safari vehicles conglomerate together. But if you're in the other parks, an experienced safari driver is highly recommended. Within 3 hours of one park, by God's grace (and we attribute this to prayer!), we say 2 sets of lions eating zebra, wiildebeast, and saw a lionness kill another wildebeast! We met a group that evening that didn't see any lions! We highly recommend Kilidove Tours. His team is not only highly knowledgeable (and they teach you their wisdom!), the owner grew up as an orphan and supports 4 - 5 orphans in their schooling! So you're not only getting the best tour company, but supporting a great organization. Its important, and you'll see this, that the operator understands the animals habits and how to maximize your photography experience.

Too crowde, too little time.

Spectacular scenery and animals. A Must.

Looking into the crater was out of this world, well worth it, loads of wildlife.

Our tour group did not get to really experience Ngorongoro because on the 1st day we went down into the crater, it was REALLY raining, and none of the animals were visible. When we were coming back from the Serengeti on our way back to Tarangire, we stopped there for a short period of time, but because of time constraints, we weren't able to devote an entire day there.

Delightful and a very interesting place with the crater aspect.