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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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Top Rated Operator
3-Day Jewels of Tanzania - Mid-Range
$1,280 to $1,620 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tour
Mid-range Lodge & Tented CampYou Visit: Arusha (Start), Serengeti NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Arusha (End)
Unlimited Expeditions: The Soul of Tanzania
4.9/5 – 491 Reviews
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Best Seller
3-Day Your Holiday from Zanzibar to Northern Circuit
$1,730 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tour
Mid-range Lodge & Tented CampYou Visit: Zanzibar (Start), Serengeti NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Zanzibar (End)
Mountain Warriors Tours and Safaris
5.0/5 – 159 Reviews
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Top Rated Operator
3-Day Best Tarangire, Ngorongoro & Manyara Trip
$1,052 to $1,071 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tour
Mid-range LodgeYou Visit: Arusha (Start), Tarangire NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara NP, Arusha (End)
Serengeti Smile
5.0/5 – 491 Reviews
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3-Day Safari Tarangire/Lake Manyara & Ngorongoro Crater
$980 to $1,005 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tour
Mid-range LodgeYou Visit: Arusha (Start), Tarangire NP, Lake Manyara NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Arusha (End)
Serengeti Green Tanzania
5.0/5 – 95 Reviews
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![3-Day Flyin Private Camping to Serengeti & Ngorongoro]()
3-Day Flyin Private Camping to Serengeti & Ngorongoro
$1,771 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tourBudgetCamping
You Visit: Zanzibar (Start), Serengeti NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Zanzibar (End)
Lekobe Adventures Safaris
5.0/5 – 38 Reviews
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![3-Day Luxury Safari - Ngorongoro, Tarangire & Manyara]()
3-Day Luxury Safari - Ngorongoro, Tarangire & Manyara
$1,012 to $1,306 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tourLuxuryLodge
You Visit: Arusha (Start), Tarangire NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara NP, Arusha (End)
Professional Safaris
4.8/5 – 72 Reviews
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![3-Day Wildlife to Beach Luxury Safari]()
3-Day Wildlife to Beach Luxury Safari
$1,800 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tourLuxuryLodge
You Visit: Zanzibar (Start), Tarangire NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara NP, Zanzibar (End)
Mellivora African Travels
4.8/5 – 45 Reviews
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Top Rated Operator
![3-Day Fly in Safari from Arusha]()
3-Day Fly in Safari from Arusha
$1,760 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tour
Mid-range LodgeYou Visit: Arusha (Start), Serengeti NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Arusha (End)
Safari Soles
5.0/5 – 321 Reviews
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![3-Day African Experience Safari]()
3-Day African Experience Safari
$1,090 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tour
Mid-range Lodge & Tented CampYou Visit: Arusha (Start), Tarangire NP, Serengeti NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Arusha (End)
Destiny Explorers
4.9/5 – 64 Reviews
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Top Rated Operator
![3-Day Tanzania Luxury Safari (Tarangire & Ngorongoro)]()
3-Day Tanzania Luxury Safari (Tarangire & Ngorongoro)
$1,310 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tourLuxuryLodge & Hotel
You Visit: Arusha (Start), Tarangire NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Arusha (End)
Kilimanjaro Adventure Safari Club
5.0/5 – 185 Reviews
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![3-Day Shared Tour Camping Serengeti/Ngorongoro Crater]()
3-Day Shared Tour Camping Serengeti/Ngorongoro Crater
$650 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Shared tour (max 6 people per vehicle)BudgetCamping
You Visit: Arusha (Start), Serengeti NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Arusha (End)
Crater Explorer Tours And Safaris
5.0/5 – 312 Reviews
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![3-Day Top Notch Tanzania Safari]()
3-Day Top Notch Tanzania Safari
$1,100 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tour
Mid-range Lodge & Tented CampYou Visit: Arusha (Start), Tarangire NP, Serengeti NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Arusha (End)
Safari360
4.9/5 – 117 Reviews
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Best Seller
![3-Day Shared Midrange Safari Serengeti to Ngorongoro]()
3-Day Shared Midrange Safari Serengeti to Ngorongoro
$1,080 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Shared tour (max 6 people per vehicle)
Mid-range Tented Camp & Tented Bush CampYou Visit: Arusha (Start), Serengeti NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Arusha (End)
kiliclimb Africa Safaris
5.0/5 – 73 Reviews
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Top Rated Operator
3-Day Luxury Safari from Zanzibar to the Wildlife Parks
$1,837 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tourLuxuryLodge
You Visit: Zanzibar (Start), Tarangire NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara NP, Zanzibar (End)
Tanzania Roadside Expeditions
5.0/5 – 277 Reviews
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Top Rated Operator
![3-Day Mid Range Tour Tarangire Ngorongoro Crater Manyara]()
3-Day Mid Range Tour Tarangire Ngorongoro Crater Manyara
$1,265 to $1,320 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tour
Mid-range LodgeYou Visit: Arusha (Start), Tarangire NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara NP, Arusha (End)
Meru Slopes Tours & Safaris
5.0/5 – 418 Reviews
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Top Rated Operator
![3-Day Tanzanian Treasures Tarangire & Ngorongoro Safari]()
3-Day Tanzanian Treasures Tarangire & Ngorongoro Safari
$963 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tour
Mid-range Lodge & Tented CampYou Visit: Arusha (Start), Tarangire NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Arusha (End)
Paradise & Wilderness
4.8/5 – 217 Reviews
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Top Rated Operator
![3-Day Zanzibar to Tarangire, Ngorongoro & Lake Manyara]()
3-Day Zanzibar to Tarangire, Ngorongoro & Lake Manyara
$1,573 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tour
Mid-range LodgeYou Visit: Zanzibar (Start), Tarangire NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara NP, Zanzibar (End)
Serengeti Wakanda Tours and Safaris
5.0/5 – 577 Reviews
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Top Rated Operator
![3-Day Signature Tanzania Safari -Mid Luxury]()
3-Day Signature Tanzania Safari -Mid Luxury
$1,572 to $1,705 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tourLuxuryTented Camp
You Visit: Arusha (Start), Ngorongoro Crater, Central Serengeti NP, Arusha (End)
Gosheni Safaris Africa
4.9/5 – 429 Reviews
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![3-Day Serengeti and Ngorongoro Wildlife Camping Safari]()
3-Day Serengeti and Ngorongoro Wildlife Camping Safari
$1,141 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tourBudgetCamping
You Visit: Arusha (Start), Serengeti NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Arusha (End)
Ozon Light Tours
4.9/5 – 147 Reviews
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![3-Day Tarangire, Ngorongoro, & Manyara Safari]()
3-Day Tarangire, Ngorongoro, & Manyara Safari
$946 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tourBudgetLodge
You Visit: Arusha (Start), Tarangire NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara NP, Arusha (End)
Kima Adventures
4.7/5 – 29 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
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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...
DE
The Ngorongoro Crater felt like stepping into another world. The stunning scenery, combined with the high density of wildlife within the crater, made this stop truly special. We loved spotting rhinos, a rare sight on safari, as well as...
NL
Its an amazing place. 600m down on the crater floor it is so rich with animals its unbelievable. On 17 x 19km all animals live together and have there own system. Its magical seeing it. But because it is small that means also its easier to...
HU
Probably the most unique, natural beauty, compact size and high density of animals. Feels a bit crowded due to its relatively smaller size and popularity. Lots of animals, hyenas, lions, buffalos, hypos, zebras, wildebeests, antelopes,...
From the rim of the crater it is hard to understand just how vast this are is. One may spot a few dots that may be animals but it can look pretty empty. Then, once down into the crater one sees that it is teeming with life. Wildebeest and...