Along with the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater is a destination not to be missed. Named a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA) is not a national park — unlike national parks, the indigenous Maasai population is still allowed to live within the area, balancing preservation, human development, and tourism in a remarkable way.
The highlight is Ngorongoro Crater itself — the largest unbroken volcanic caldera in the world. Winding down the 600m walls brings you into an area amazingly dense with animals. Most are non-migratory, making this a reliably excellent destination at any time of year. Spotting the Big Five in a single morning is entirely possible. The crater is only 20km in diameter, and the typical visit of 4–5 hours inside is enough to see it all. The crater is open 6am–6pm only — all visitors and vehicles must be out by 6pm.
There is more to the NCA than the crater itself. Olduvai Gorge Museum (the site of Dr. Leakey’s famous discoveries) makes a worthwhile 1–2 hour stopover on the way to or from the Serengeti. Maasai village visits ($20/person) and the smaller Empakai Crater to the north are also worth exploring.
Accommodations are all located outside the crater rim, at an elevation of 2,286m (7,500 ft) — bring warm layers, as it is cold and often windy at the top. All Best Tanzania Safari prices include park fees, conservation fees, and taxes.