At 19km wide and with a surface of 264 sq km, Ngorongoro (🎟️1,139,113 TZS for two + 🚙220 USD) is one of the largest unbroken calderas in the world that isn’t a lake. Its steep walls soar 400m to 610m and provide the setting for an incredible natural drama, as prey and predators graze and stalk their way around the open grasslands, swamps and acacia woodland on the crater floor.
There are plenty of hippos soaking around the Ngoitoktok Springs picnic site, and Lake Magadi attracts flocks of flamingos. Lereal Forest is good for elephants, of which there are 200 to 300 in the crater. Predators include around 600 spotted hyenas, 55 lions, and both golden and black-backed jackals. These predators are sustained by large numbers of resident herbivores, with wildebeest, zebras, buffalo and Grant’s gazelles the most common. Around 20% of the wildebeest and zebras migrate annually between the crater and the Serengeti.
We do not understand who is creating the price structure to enter Tanzanian National Parks, but we believe they are primarily trying to generate revenue; the infrastructure is in a terrible state. You should consider hiring a local driver with their car to avoid damaging yours. Also, the entry of 71 USD per person is ok, but then a separate entry to the crater in the value of 295 USD per car is out of this world. And all rates are definitely not valid 24 hours; once you enter and once you exit, your 24-hour permit is gone.
Parking location – Mto Wa Mbu: 3.372974S 35.864212E (🚻,🅿️5,000 TZS,💦10,000 TZS)