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5-Day Ngorongoro Crater Safari Tours
I would always rank Ngorongoro Crater among my top five safari destinations anywhere in Africa. It has a feel like no other place, and I get a real thrill of excitement every time I go down into the crater in the early morning light: it always feels like entering a lost world. My love affair is partly about the wildlife (sightings are much easier here than in many other parks), and about the unusual landscape (there are very few volcanic craters that are this beautiful and accessible). But I also love Ngorongoro for the land that surrounds it, from the Crater Highlands to the Maasai homelands that should form a central part of your experience here.
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Best Seller
5-Day Safari to Tarangire Serengeti & Ngorongoro Crater
$1,870 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tour
Mid-range Lodge & Tented CampYou Visit: Arusha (Start), Tarangire NP, Serengeti NP, Central Serengeti NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Arusha (End)
Tanzania Roadside Expeditions
5.0/5 – 261 Reviews
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Top Rated Operator
5-Day Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro & Manyara Program
$1,851 to $1,933 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tour
Mid-range Lodge & Tented CampYou Visit: Arusha (Start), Tarangire NP, Serengeti NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara NP, Arusha (End)
Serengeti Smile
5.0/5 – 335 Reviews
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Top Rated Operator
5-Day Fly in Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater & Lake Manyara
$3,135 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tourLuxuryLodge & Tented Camp
You Visit: Zanzibar (Start), Serengeti NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara NP, Zanzibar (End)
Safari Soles
5.0/5 – 291 Reviews
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Best Seller
5-Day Living Among Lions - High-End
$3,260 to $4,470 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tourLuxury+Lodge & Tented Camp
You Visit: Arusha (Start), Lake Manyara NP, Serengeti NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Arusha (End)
Unlimited Expeditions: The Soul of Tanzania
4.9/5 – 469 Reviews
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5-Day Fly-in Wildlife Safari from Zanzibar to Tanzania
$2,189 to $2,244 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tour
Mid-range Lodge & Tented CampYou Visit: Zanzibar (Start), Serengeti NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara NP, Tarangire NP, Arusha (End)
Amshar Serengeti Adventures
5.0/5 – 102 Reviews
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5-Day Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro & Serengeti Luxury Tour
$3,937 to $4,201 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tourLuxuryLodge & Tented Bush Camp
You Visit: Arusha (Start), Lake Manyara NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti NP, Arusha (End)
Wayfairer Travel
4.9/5 – 162 Reviews
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Top Rated Operator
5-Day Group Tour Manyara Serengeti Ngorongoro Tarangire
$990 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Shared tour (max 6 people per vehicle)BudgetCamping
You Visit: Arusha (Start), Tarangire NP, Serengeti NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara NP, Arusha (End)
Suricata Safaris
5.0/5 – 2,254 Reviews
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Top Rated Operator
5-Day Mid Range Best of Tanzania
$1,800 to $1,958 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tour
Mid-range Lodge & Tented CampYou Visit: Arusha (Start), Tarangire NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti NP, Lake Manyara NP, Arusha (End)
Lion King Adventures
5.0/5 – 1,132 Reviews
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5-Day Great Migration Safari in Northern Serengeti
$1,970 to $1,995 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tour
Mid-range Lodge & Tented CampYou Visit: Arusha (Start), Tarangire NP, Northern Serengeti NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Arusha (End)
Serengeti Green Tanzania
4.9/5 – 51 Reviews
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5-Day Comfort Wildlife Safari
$1,212 to $1,375 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tour
Mid-range LodgeYou Visit: Arusha (Start), Lake Manyara NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire NP, Arusha (End)
Full Package Adventures
5.0/5 – 114 Reviews
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5-Day Tracing Migration Combined with Culture
$1,876 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tour
Mid-range Lodge & Tented CampYou Visit: Arusha (Start), Tarangire NP, Northern Serengeti NP, Serengeti NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Eyasi, Arusha (End)
Mountain Warriors Tours and Safaris
4.9/5 – 119 Reviews
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5-Day Luxury Splendor of Tanzania's Grand Wild Safari
$2,603 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tourLuxuryLodge
You Visit: Arusha (Start), Lake Manyara NP, Serengeti NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire NP, Arusha (End)
Ozon Light Tours
5.0/5 – 110 Reviews
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5-Day Great Migration Fly-in Safari from Zanzibar
$2,503 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tour
Mid-range Lodge & Tented CampYou Visit: Zanzibar (Start), Northern Serengeti NP, Central Serengeti NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Zanzibar (End)
kiliclimb Africa Safaris
5.0/5 – 59 Reviews
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5-Day Big 5 Safari Lodge Safari to Serengeti, Ngorongoro
$1,964 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tour
Mid-range Lodge & Tented CampYou Visit: Arusha (Start), Tarangire NP, Lake Manyara NP, Central Serengeti NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Arusha (End)
Vervet Safari and Tours Tanzania
4.8/5 – 82 Reviews
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Top Rated Operator
5-Day Comfort Safari Experience
$1,755 to $1,914 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tour
Mid-range Lodge & Tented CampYou Visit: Arusha (Start), Tarangire NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti NP, Lake Manyara NP, Arusha (End)
African Big Cats Safaris
5.0/5 – 408 Reviews
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Top Rated Operator
5-Day Join Group Northern Tanzania Safari
$1,100 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Shared tour (max 6 people per vehicle)BudgetCamping
You Visit: Arusha (Start), Tarangire NP, Serengeti NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara NP, Arusha (End)
Meru Slopes Tours & Safaris
5.0/5 – 357 Reviews
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Top Rated Operator
5-Day Ndutu Migration Footstep -Calving Season Safari
$2,738 to $2,855 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tour
Mid-range Tented CampYou Visit: Arusha (Start), Ndutu (Southern Serengeti NP), Central Serengeti NP, Ngorongoro Highlands, Ngorongoro Crater, Arusha (End)
Gosheni Safaris Africa
4.9/5 – 423 Reviews
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5-Day Tanzania Wildlife Safari - Private Budget
$1,637 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tourBudgetCamping & Lodge
You Visit: Arusha (Start), Tarangire NP, Serengeti NP, Central Serengeti NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara NP, Arusha (End)
Colours Africa Tours and Safaris
5.0/5 – 171 Reviews
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5-Day Midrange Safari - Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro
$1,540 to $1,760 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Shared tour (max 6 people per vehicle)
Mid-range Lodge & Tented Bush CampYou Visit: Arusha (Start), Tarangire NP, Serengeti NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Arusha (End)
King Solomon Safaris
5.0/5 – 39 Reviews
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5-Day Taste of Tanzanian Wilderness
$1,420 pp (USD)
Tanzania: Private tour
Mid-range Lodge & HotelYou Visit: Arusha (Start), Arusha NP, Tarangire NP, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Eyasi, Lake Manyara NP, Arusha (End)
Msangai Adventure Safaris
5.0/5 – 81 Reviews
5 Questions About 5-Day Ngorongoro Crater Safaris
![Anthony Ham](https://cloudfront.safaribookings.com/assets/experts/84x84/Anthony_Ham.jpg)
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 5-Day Ngorongoro Crater Safaris
![](https://cloudfront.safaribookings.com/assets/experts/42x42/Anthony_Ham.jpg)
Which parks can I visit on a 5-day Ngorongoro Crater safari?
“You could spend 5 days just at Ngorongoro, but you’d be missing some of the other attractions nearby that really should form a part of your tour. Although 2 days down in the actual crater would be a wonderful experience, most travelers and tours only spend 1 day exploring the crater floor. It’s worth considering a further exploration of the Crater Highlands: Olmoti Crater, for example. And spending time, without hurrying, in a Maasai village is another must-do. With 5 days in total, when it comes to national parks, you could easily spend some time in Lake Manyara National Park on your way to Ngorongoro (if you’re coming from Arusha, as most travelers do). With 1 day at Lake Manyara, and another 2 days in and around Ngorongoro, you’d still have time for a couple of days in Serengeti National Park (provided you fly out on the fifth day).”
1Am I likely to see the Big Five on a 5-day trip including the Ngorongoro Crater?
“Ngorongoro is one of the best places to see the Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo) in East Africa. Usually it’s the rhino that is most difficult to see, but black rhinos are commonly seen in the crater. Elephant, lion and buffalo should also be no problem. The only tricky one might be the leopard: they are present but can be elusive. If your 5 days on safari include time in the Serengeti (especially the Seronera region in the center of the park), then leopards are much easier to see there. Remember that seeing the Big Five (a phrase coined by early 20th-century hunters to describe the animals that were most dangerous to hunt) is only one wildlife highlight among many here. There is so much else – cheetah, spotted hyena, golden jackal, wildebeest, zebra and more – also on offer.”
2What are the accommodation options on a safari which includes the Ngorongoro Crater?
“There are superb accommodation choices across most budgets on your 5-day Ngorongoro safari. All of the options lie around, or close to, the crater rim: no one, not even the Maasai, are allowed to spend the night down on the crater floor. Encircling the crater, especially along the southern edge of the rim, are numerous lodges, tented camps and campsites. Many of these (including a couple of the budget campsites) have stunning views out over (and down into) the crater. These are the most sought-after choices, but most (apart from the campsites) are expensive. Also up on the rim, although set back from the edge and without crater views, there are places to stay in all budgets; some of these have delightful forest settings. The other option is to stay in one of the places off the road between Karatu and Ngorongoro. The better ones inhabit farms and coffee estates, and some are surrounded by forest and come with great views. Most are just off the road before it climbs up to the crater rim from the southeast.”
3How can I avoid the crowds when visiting the Ngorongoro Crater?
“Ngorongoro is a popular year-round destination, and for most of the time you’ll just have to accept that there will be quite a few other travelers around when you visit. At the same time, the crater is large, rarely feels crowded and you can generally avoid the crowds for much of the day. Exceptions include Ngoitoktok Springs, where many tours stop for a picnic lunch, and wherever there’s a lion on the hunt or on a kill. The busiest months coincide with the high season, which runs from July to March. Late March, April, and much of May can be quieter, but they’re also when you’re most likely to encounter rains which turn many Ngorongoro trails to mud. Late May or, even better, June can be a good time to visit, although the crowds are already starting to build in June.”
4How much does a 5-day Ngorongoro Crater safari cost?
“The cost of a 5-day Ngorongoro safari varies greatly from one safari operator to the next. As a starting point, you will pay from US$150 per person per day for the cheapest, budget camping tour. This includes the US$50/10 per adult/child per day entry fee for the Ngorongoro Conservation Authority. At the higher end of the price scale, expect to pay at least US$500 per person per day, although this could go much higher if you factor in air transfers and some of the pricier, luxury accommodation. Apart from the accommodation, the different kinds of safari on offer also impact the cost of your safari. If you choose a private safari (which means you pay to have the vehicle, driver and guide all for yourself), you will pay a lot more than you will for a group or self-drive safari. It can also be cheaper to go in low season, although that’s less of a factor in Ngorongoro than it is in other East African destinations.”
5Ngorongoro Crater Reviews
![](https://cloudfront.safaribookings.com/assets/experts/42x42/Sue_Watt.jpg)
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...
![](https://cloudfront.safaribookings.com/assets/experts/42x42/Harriet_Nimmo.jpg)
Harriet is a zoologist with more than 20 years’ experience. She has the privilege of working with the world’s top wildlife photographers and photo-guides.
Top of the Bucket List
It was my childhood dream to see the Ngorongoro Crater, and I feared it would not live up to my expectations. However, it spectacularly exceeded them – truly taking my breath away. I realise this is a well-worn phrase, but the Ngorongoro...
![United States United States](https://cfstatic.safaribookings.com/images/flags/us.png)
The visit was spectacular! We visited Ngorongoro at the end of June, and we had a cloudy and windy day, but that didn't stop us from seeing lions, elephants, hundreds of zebras, wildebeests, ostriches, and rhinos. Dress warmly if you go...
![United States United States](https://cfstatic.safaribookings.com/images/flags/us.png)
My only complaint would be how crowded the crater gets. They don't limit the number of vehicles allowed in the park. There are limited roads, so the traffic can get quite heavy on those. This does ensure that the animals get bothered less...
![Netherlands Netherlands](https://cfstatic.safaribookings.com/images/flags/nl.png)
we drove by before we went to Serengeti, so we already experienced the few. The day we drove in the crater we saw a rhino! the landscape in de the crater is already so diffrent from what we saw the days before. it was really surprising....
![Germany Germany](https://cfstatic.safaribookings.com/images/flags/de.png)
Many impressions with the Big Five and more.
Price-performance was great! Everything was very well organized. In two days in Tarangire National Park and Ngorongoro Crater I was able to see the Big Five and more. The leopard first thing in the morning and the large herds of elephants...