Will you be visiting the Ngorongoro Crater & Ngorongoro Conservation Area soon and want to know more to help you plan your Ngorongoro holiday? If so, you are in the right place. Here’s a little about what I can tell you about that.
Let’s start with, Ngorongoro travel packages, the simplest way to explore Ngorongoro.
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Table of Contents
Ngorongoro Travel Packages/Ngorongoro Holiday Packages/Ngorongoro Trip Packages/Ngorongoro Tour Packages/Ngorongoro Conservation Area Vacation Packages
Most people, especially if they don’t live in East Africa, book their entire trip to Ngorongoro through a tour operator.
These Ngorongoro travel packages usually include the cost of accommodation, transportation within Tanzania, and the cost of park & activity fees.
The cost of Ngorongoro travel packages can vary greatly depending on what kind of Ngorongoro safari you want to go on: duration of trip, type of accommodation, activities you do while there, etc.
Some reputable places online where you can buy Ngorongoro travel packages include:
- SafariBookings,
- TourRadar, and
- Discover Africa.
What will remain the same no matter which of the many Ngorongoro travel packages you opt for is what you will pay the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority for access to the Conservation Area and Crater.
You can find the latest Ngorongoro Crater fees here.
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Urgench to Tashkent Flights
Did you happen on this post while looking for flights between the Uzbek cities of Urgench and Tashkent? If so, click here for great deals on flights on that route.
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Ngorongoro Vacation Photos
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Opening Hours
All gates and barriers in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area open between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. The one exception is the Seneto Descent Gate which closes at 4 p.m.
All vehicles must be out of the Ngorongoro Crater by 6:00 p.m.
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What Is It Like to Actually Be in the Crater?
In one word, divine!
It is no surprise to me that life probably had its beginnings in this part of the world.
I often say: the sun shines differently in the Ngorongoro Crater!
I remember standing out in the wild, in the middle of the Crater, with zebra around me and Maasai sitting on the ground tending to their cattle not far away. It was otherworldly!
(Thank God I didn’t know at the time that the Crater had the densest known population of lions! I don’t think I would have enjoyed the moment quite so much if I did. 😯 )
Honestly, the Crater is just really grand!
Whether it’s standing on the rim and trying to take in the whole Crater from above, or having lunch while sitting on thick tree roots by the Ngoitokok springs, or the crazy drive descending into or ascending out of the Crater, this is not an experience you’ll easily forget.
If you ever have a chance to visit, I cannot recommend it enough!
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Ngorongoro Conservation Area Fees (Included in Most Ngorongoro Travel Packages)
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N.B.: You CANNOT pay your Ngorongoro Crater fees in cash at the gates of the Conservation Area itself. You can with a VISA/Mastercard, though, subject to an additional service charge of 1.5%. To avoid the additional charge, pay these fees in advance at NMB, a local bank.
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You can find NMB branches all over the country. The ones in Arusha and Karatu (approximately half an hour away) might be your best bet though.
Where to Stay On Your Ngorongoro Holiday (Accommodation Costs Are Included in Most Ngorongoro Travel Packages)
Ngorongoro Holidays: Overview of Hotels in & Around the Ngorongoro Conservation Area
When visiting Ngorongoro, you basically have three main groups of accommodation to choose from:
- luxury hotels on the rim of the crater that offer great views along with a price tag to match, e.g., Ngorongoro Crater Lodge and Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge;
- accommodation inside the Conservation Area that doesn’t offer a view of the Crater and therefore will be a little cheaper, e.g., Rhino Lodge; and
- hotels outside the Ngorongoro Conservation Area in an area called Karatu, which can be quite cheap and even cost as low as US$15 a night.
Ngorongoro Crater Lodge Rates
If you would like to stay at one of the hotels on the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater, you might be interested in the very luxurious &Beyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge pictured above.
To give you an idea of the current going rates for accommodation at &Beyond Ngorongoro Crater Lodge in 2022, a suite costs from US$1,160 per person per night.
The going rate for a family suite starts at US$4,060 per family suite per night.
Hotels on the Rim of the Ngorongoro Crater: Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge
One of a handful of hotels located on the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater, the Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge, as you would expect, offers amazing views of this astonishing feat of nature.
Built with natural materials, such as stone, timber, and rope, the architecture of the Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge keeps in line with the natural environment around it and does not detract from the magnificence of where you are.
Cozy spaces meet welcoming, professional service…and good food!
Cheap Ngorongoro Conservation Area Hotels (Not on the Rim of the Crater)
As mentioned above, if you are interested in something that is relatively cheap in terms of hotels in and around the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, your best bet is to stay somewhere outside the protected area, say in Karatu.
Karatu lies 14 km from the main gate of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, so close enough to ensure that you can get into the Crater early in the morning.
Popular choices in Karatu include Gibb’s Farm, Plantation Lodge and Ngorongoro Farmhouse Lodge. (I highly recommend TanzanIce Farm Lodge.)
Recommended Hotel in Karatu: Tanzanice Farm Lodge (a Relatively Cheap Option for Hotels Near the Ngorongoro Crater)
TanzanIce Farm Lodge, located 12 kilometers from the Lodoare Gate of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, is a place I recommend highly.
A Tanzanian/Icelandic collaboration, TanzanIce Farm Lodge is a farmhouse located on an operational farm and fully fledged social enterprise.
It is very neat and clean. The customer service is among some of the best I have encountered anywhere in years!
The accommodation is simple and well-priced.
The (super-)hot-water shower with strong pressure is a delight when you are on safari.
The food is good, but a little expensive for what it is.
Still, I recommend TanzanIce Farm Lodge wholeheartedly!
There is NO accommodation inside the Crater itself nor can you camp there.
Speaking of camping, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area has only one public campsite: Simba Campsite.
It lies on the rim of the Crater not far from the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority headquarters.
Deals on Ngorongoro Conservation Area Hotels
If you are looking for something relatively cheap in terms of hotels in or around the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, here are some great deals currently available.
Now, your turn.
That’s it from me today.
I hope you enjoyed reading about the amazing natural phenomenon that is the Ngorongoro Crater and the UNESCO World Heritage Site that is the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
If ever you do visit Ngorongoro, please come back here and leave me a comment telling me what you thought.
If you’ve already been, I’d love to hear about your experience.
Do you have any recommendations for would be travelers to the area? If so, please share them below!
Until the next time,
Biche
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Photo Credits: South-African-Lodges.com, Journey in Style, Gibb’s Farm, Gites.fr, David Berkowitz, Jonathan Gill, Wikimapia.org, SpotiStarehe.com, AVSIM Library, Tourism Update, epcp, George Lamson, The Luxury Safari Company, SophieStolle, Brocken Inaglory, George Lamson, Wild Secret Safaris
