Why Go on a Ngorongoro Safari, Tanzania

Why Go On A Ngorongoro Safari

The Ngorongoro Conservation Area in northern Tanzania, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where you’ll spot lion, elephant, giraffe, and more. Enjoy a guided hike to the top of Olmoti for staggering views or take a trip to the soda lake in Empakaai Crater to see thousands of pink flamingos. Around 25,000 large animals live in the 30,000-hectare Ngorongoro Crater – one of Africa’s new Seven Natural Wonders.

Ngorongoro is a great Tanzania safari destination all year round. However, to avoid crowds, we recommend travelling in January and May. On the other hand, July and August offer the best wildlife viewing, but they are also the busiest months.

An Asilia Africa safari vehicle parked in lush green highland grass beneath a vast, dramatic sky of layered storm clouds and golden sunset light, with volcanic mountain slopes on either side, near Ngorongoro, Tanzania. — Where the sky takes centre stage — the volcanic highlands around Ngorongoro deliver some of East Africa's most dramatic sunsets, best enjoyed in total solitude from The Highlands' elevated perch on the crater rim.

A guest and a Maasai guide in traditional green checked shuka walk together through tall grass on the rolling green highlands near Ngorongoro, with sweeping volcanic slopes in the background, at The Highlands by Asilia Africa. — *A walk with a difference — a Maasai guide shares generations of knowledge on the grassy slopes of the Ngorongoro Highlands, where the safari experience goes well beyond the vehicle.*

Three zebras graze while a waterbuck look on - Ngorongoro, Tanzania — *Zebras and antelope graze peacefully in the Ngorongoro Crater’s rich volcanic grasslands.*

A guest with a backpack and a local guide hike along the edge of a lush, deeply carved green gorge on the Ngorongoro Highlands, with forested slopes and rolling hills stretching into the distance, at The Highlands by Asilia Africa. — Off the beaten track and into the gorge — guided hikes from The Highlands take guests deep into the dramatic volcanic landscape surrounding the Ngorongoro Crater, a world away from the game drive circuit below.

Two Maasai women wearing colourful checked shuka wraps and traditional beaded jewellery sit outdoors in soft golden light on the Ngorongoro Highlands, one carefully threading beadwork with her hands, near The Highlands by Asilia Africa. — *Patience, precision and centuries of tradition — Maasai women craft intricate beadwork, each colour and pattern carrying meaning passed down through generations.*

A mother and baby hippo in Ngorongoro, Tanzania — *A hippo calf stays close as adults wallow in the crater’s freshwater pools.*

a flamboyance of flamingo stood in the water, ngoronogoro, tanzania, asilia africa — *A flamingo spectacle unfolds where alkaline waters meet the crater’s wild serenity.*

A waterbuck rests on the grass in Ngorongoro, Tanzania — *Two waterbuck rest in the golden grass, blending into Ngorongoro’s crater floor.*

Ngorongoro Activities

Game Drives
Join us for an unforgettable game drive on the breathtaking Ngorongoro Crater floor. Our knowledgeable and personable guides will accompany you in comfortable seven-seater vehicles equipped with power points and fridges. Enjoy Tanzania’s renowned wildlife while enjoying a picnic lunch and other amenities. Come and experience the magic of nature with us.

Wildlife
With wildlife neatly contained within the crater, you’re sure to have incredible sightings of a wide variety of species that call the crater floor their home. Species you’re likely to see include lion, black rhino, zebra, buffalo, Thompson’s and Grant’s gazelle, and elephant.

Predators
With so many animals contained within the crater walls, predators are never far off, hoping to capitalise on this. Leopards and lions can be found prowling the area in search their next meal,

Olmoti Crater Climb
The hike begins at a ranger station at the foot of Olmoti, just a brief drive from the camp. We follow an ancient Maasai cattle path that meanders through mountainous forests, grassy plains, and rocky outcrops while catching glimpses of various bird and butterfly species along the way. Upon reaching the summit, our hikers are treated to breathtaking vistas of the crater below.

Empakaai Crater Climb
Join a Ngorongoro Conservation Area ranger for a half-day excursion to Empakaai Crater. Hike down the crater’s walls to reach the famous soda lake where thousands of pink flamingos flock, creating a picturesque pink lakeshore. Absorb the breathtaking tranquillity and serene scenery while enjoying delicious snacks on the crater floor before hiking through the forested slopes to return to the crater rim.

Community & Cultural Visits
Come and spend an afternoon with the Maasai people in a nearby village to discover their traditional way of life. Additionally, you can explore a market that supports local traders or join herders as they bring their cattle back to their bomas (enclosures) on a walk.

The Asilia Spa at The Highlands
offers a variety of relaxing massages for tired muscles and an intimate barrel sauna for a hot cleanse.