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Ngurdoto Crater

Ngurdoto Crater

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Ngurdoto Crater
4.5
About
Located in Arusha National Park and off limits to humans, this verdant crater’s mossy, swampy habitat provides a natural sanctuary for elephants, buffalo and Colobus monkeys.
Meets animal welfare guidelines
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1 within 6 miles
Mount Meru Waterfall
32
1.2 miWaterfalls
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions
4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles537 reviews
Excellent
426
Very good
82
Average
22
Poor
5
Terrible
2
Per-Erik S
5 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Garden of Eden
Dec 2019
We visited the crater on our Christmas safari 2019. Our excellent guide Steven from AAA Express Adventures took us down to the crater floor as one of the first vehicles in the morning. The game drive was just incredible. Herds of zebras, gnus, buffalos, antilopes mixed together. Flamingos. Lions, elephants, monkeys, birds and just about every animal you can dream of on a Safari. Serengeti is fantastic but requires a lot of driving if you start from Arusha. So, if you have limited time and want to see a lots of animals I would definitely go to Lake Manyara and Ngorongoro which are much closer and you will see all the animals. But of course, not the unique plains of Serengeti.
Written January 13, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jocelyn S
Durban, South Africa88 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Mist prone, but beautiful
Jun 2021
This is an interesting area as it is in misty rain forest, so don't be disappointed if you do not see the crater. There is a surprising amount of game, and plenty of interesting birds, particularly near the lakes. There are also hiking trails, which we were unfortunately not able to do as there had been heavy late rains .
Written June 16, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AJS
Montenegro14 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Rim walk and Safari Drive
Oct 2020 • Couples
We had an afternoon rim walk (3 hrs) which was a great way to see the crater and get a sense of the size of it. The next day we drove down and did a full day in the crater.

Being a strange year with few tourists meant there were only 9 cars there all day! Highlights were spending half an hour with a mother hippo and young plus seeing a gazelle taking its first wobbly steps in the world. Oh, plus the 2 black rhino and 3 lion! :)

This is a must see at least once in your life!
Written November 4, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sally K
19 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
An experience of a lifetime
May 2022
This is one of the most magical places I've ever visited. The crater is a haven for some of the most rare animals in the world. We were exceptionally fortunate and saw black rhino, lions, hippos, zebras and many more in a day visit from Arusha. It's not cheap - but it is well worth splashing out on a visit to this bit of paradise.
Written May 14, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ronald A
34 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
This place was amazing
Feb 2022
We were on Safari in the crater looking most specifically for black rhinos and we saw five. Our guide told us that in his 14 years as a guide he had never seen more than three. And there were elephants, wildebeast, cape buffalo, lots of animals and birds. It was a wonderland.
Written February 26, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Knuddelinchen
Moshi, Tanzania2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
So many animals! Totally awesome!
Feb 2020 • Couples
We've done a self drive in the crater with our Landrover (we have only two seats so a guide wouldn't fit). It was totally awesome! We've seen a lot of zebras, gnus, lions, 2 rhinos and more.
But you have to know that a self drive could be dangerous there: first of all you need a very good car with 4x4. Second: the road is different: the first km are easy to drive if you follow the other cars.
But don't drive the roads behind the picnic area on your one! When it had rained they are full of water. A few guides stuck with they cars or had to repair them. And third: don't drive alone! Always follow other cars so if you get stuck someone can help.
We had the best time there! Definitely worth it!
Written February 11, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The Gab
Chicago, IL50 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Beautiful and Lush with Animals
Aug 2021
Incredible views at sunrise, baboons and so many babies in the trees, flamingos!!! so many flamingos, ostriches!! So many animals to see up close. Wonderful experience.

Too bad all of my photos and camera equipment were robbed from me in my locked hotel room at Gold Zanzibar resort - dont ever stay there.
Written August 19, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Elvy S
2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Gorgeous Vistas!
May 2022
One of the most beautiful places we visited on our journey through Tanzania. The vista from the top of the crater is spectacular! The animals are numerous and we could get very close to them. At night we could hear the sounds of the animals within the crater. Don’t miss this spectacular part of Tanzania.
Written June 23, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ilogjr
Reno, NV408 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Well worth the trip!
May 2022
Hat a spectacular place! So much wildlife and so diverse. Plenty of sites and animals to see. The roads apiece well maintained. Lions, elephants, rhinos, and flamingoes just to name a few of the animals we saw.
Written June 5, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lovetoexploreplaces
Littleton, CO, USA15 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
These reviews are all for Ngorongoro, not Ngurdoto!
Jun 2015
It is impossible to contact Tripadvisor, so this is simply to let others know that almost every review for Ngurdoto Crater is really for Ngorongoro Crater -- many of the reviews even have the name Ngorongoro but are listed under Ngurdoto. We are planning to visit both soon, but Ngurdoto does not have lions and elephants, Maasai villages, lodges on the crater rim, or an allowed descent into the crater from all my research -- it would be a lot easier to determine where one wants to go if TripAdvisor would post these reviews to the correct crater -- especially when some are entitled "Ngorongoro" instead of "Ngurdoto." I have gone through about 8 pages and corrected (sent notice to TripAdvisor) all that are for sure Ngorongoro and not Ngurdoto, but I am tired and giving up now. Just know that you will not see lions and elephants and other things mentioned above if you go to Ngurdoto and go elsewhere for your research on Ngurdoto, which is in Arusha National Park.
Written June 20, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Ngurdoto Crater - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2025)

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