Best Time to Visit the Ngorongoro Crater (Month by Month) 2025
Best Time to Visit the Ngorongoro Crater (Month by Month) 2025. Even though the roads around the caldera can become quite muddy, the best time to visit the Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania is between April and May. This time of year there are significantly fewer visitors, and the crater is verdant and green in contrast to the dusty dry-season landscape. During the peak season from July to September, and again during the calving season from December to February, which follows the November rainfall, a large number of visitors can be expected.
The question of when to go on Ngorongoro Crater excursions is less about maximizing your game viewing experience and more about how many other people and vehicles you wish to share the crater with.
NGORONGORO, #1 Safari Tanzania!? TRAVEL GUIDE to the CRATER and Great Migration
Month by Month Guide for Travelling to Ngorongoro Crater
Visiting the Ngorongoro Crater in January to May
January is a best time to visit the Ngorongoro Crater because it is wildebeest breeding season there. The herds perform what is known as a “mass calving” on the verdant plains just outside the crater, providing excellent photo opportunities of newborns attempting to stand. Between the’ short rains’ and ‘long rainfall’, January and February can be dry.
In the crater, February is one of the drier months before the rains commence at the end of March. This is an excellent time to observe wildlife, particularly lions and hyenas preparing to stalk the abundant herds.
March is one of the finest months to visit the Ngorongoro Crater in order to avoid crowds and take advantage of affordable rates. The ‘long showers’ commence at the end of March and continue through April and May, transforming the crater into a verdant paradise.
Visiting the Ngorongoro Crater from June to October
June is a prime opportunity to visit the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The ‘long rains’ have ended, and game excursions are now significantly less crowded. The peak season for safaris in the Ngorongoro Crater does not begin until the end of June or the beginning of July. During this month, the weather is also optimal for climbing Kilimanjaro, a popular add-on to a Ngorongoro safari.
July and August are prime season for visitors to the Ngorongoro Crater, and accommodations are typically quite full during these months. The visibility of wildlife along the arid plains and their frequent visits to watering sites draw visitors from all over the world during the dry season. During this time, it is common to see leopard, lion, rhino, bison, and elephant on the same day.
September is the beginning of spring, but it is still the arid season in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. At this time of year, the crater can be cold. A portion of the crater floor resembles a dusty basin, and the grasslands have become yellow due to the dry weather of the past few months.
The Ngorongoro Crater experiences a weather transition in October, as the beginning of the month marks the peak of the lengthy dry season and the’ short rains’ begin just before November.
Visiting the Ngorongoro Crater from November to December
November and December are warm and occasionally rainy in the Ngorongoro Crater. This is the’short rains’ season, but the rain falls in short bursts, typically as afternoon showers that rarely interfere with excursions. November is one of the best periods to visit the Ngorongoro Crater for birdwatching because the first migratory birds arrive with the rainfall.
Ready to Start Planning Your Visit to the Ngorongoro Crater?
Discuss with a person who has been there. Contact one of our Africa Travel Experts for assistance in planning a custom excursion to the Ngorongoro Crater:
