ngorongoro crater & conservation area

The Ngorongoro Crater is ranked amongst the seven natural wonders of the world and is home to a breathtaking variety of game and scenery. Most of the guest lodges are found around the rim of the crater, where altitude keeps temperatures cool, especially at night. Here the forest is rich and lush with hanging creepers, screeching monkeys and morning mists. The floor of the crater is a microcosm of the whole of East Africa, where plentiful food and water ensure a substantial animal population. The crater is home to a population of Black Rhino and is one of the few places in Tanzania where the prospects of spotting a rhino are very good. The crater also has one of the densest populations of large predators, such as lion and hyena.

Best time to go: Game viewing is good all year, but rain in April and May can make parts of the crater inaccessible