Getting to Ngorongoro Crater 

The Ngorongoro Crater is one of the most visited places in Tanzania on the northern circuit safari route. Many people combine Ngorongoro with Tarangire National Park, Lake Manyara, and Serengeti National Park. 

Whether you’re already in Tanzania or you’re coming from an international destination, you might be curious about the best way to get to Ngorongoro Crater. There are many options for getting there, but the easiest way is to book a safari and have them arrange the transportation for you. 

Flying to Ngorongoro Crater 

If you want to fly to the crater, your first need to fly to Arusha Regional Airport (ARK) or Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO). 

ARK only serves regional airlines that are local to Tanzania including Precision Air and Air Tanzania. You can fly into ARK very cheaply and quickly if you are already in Zanzibar, Dar Es Salaam, or another major Tanzanian city. 

If you are coming from an international destination, you will need to fly into JRO. This major airport serves many different airlines including KLM, Turkish Airlines, and Kenya Airways. You can fly from locations in the Middle East, Europe, and Turkey. 

To get to Tanzania If you’re coming from North America or South America, you will first need to connect through Europe or the Middle East as there are no direct flights from these locations. 

Once you are at Kilimanjaro International Airport, Tanzania Safaris company pick you up from here and bring you to Ngorongoro Crater. 

If you’re already in Arusha, Tanzania Safaris guide can also pick you up from your hotel or ARK and bring you to Ngorongoro Crater. 

Dar Es Salaam also has a major international airport called Julius Nyerere International (DAR). This airport serves more airlines than JRO including British Airways, Emirates, Qatar, and South African Airways. 

From Dar Es Salaam, you can then use a regional airline to fly into Arusha where the safari guide will be waiting to bring you to the park or your Arusha accommodation. 

Charter Flights to Ngorongoro Crater 

Ngorongoro has one landing strip about 3 kilometers from the entrance to the crater. If you do not want to do any driving, you can fly to the landing strip from Arusha’s airport. Some regional airlines also fly to Ngorongoro from JRO. 

You will need to arrange for a flight with Tanzania safaris and we will get you all the details. Some people also use the landing strips in Tarangire National Park or Lake Manyara and then visit Ngorongoro Crater after visiting the other parks. 

One of the most popular itineraries is to fly from Arusha to Serengeti. Serengeti National Park is easy to access because there are seven different airstrips around the park. Once you spend a few days in Serengeti, your safari guide can drive you to Ngorongoro Crater. 

How to Get to Ngorongoro Crater From Other Northern Circuit Parks

Many people head to Ngorongoro Crater after visiting Serengeti. Depending on where you are coming from in Serengeti, your drive could be anywhere from 3 to 5 hours. The most popular place in the north, Seronera, is three hours from Ngorongoro Crater. 

Lake Manyara is two hours from Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire is 4 hours from the crater. There are many lodging places in between the parks. So, your guide may take you to accommodation for a one-night stay in between the two parks to split up the driving times. 

Since all the northern circuit parks are fairly close together, many people choose to visit them all and make one long safari itinerary. 

You can head to Serengeti first and then to the other three parks. Some people also choose to start with Ngorongoro, Lake Manyara, and Tarangire. Then, they head to Serengeti at the end of their trip. 

Getting to Ngorongoro Crater By Road 

Ngorongoro Crater is about 3.5 hours from Arusha. Many people spend a few days exploring and getting to know their way around Arusha before heading off for their safaris. 

Once you’re in Arusha, it will take about three and a half hours to reach Ngorongoro Crater. From Kilimanjaro International Airport, it takes about 5 hours to get to Ngorongoro Crater. 

When you book a safari, the guide will pick you up from the airport and drive you to Ngorongoro Crater in a 4x4 safari jeep that is perfect for driving on unpaved roads. 
Ngorongoro Gates 
There are two main entrance gates to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. One gate is for entering Serengeti and the other gate is for entering Ngorongoro Crater. 

Your guide will take you to the Lodoare Gate. The gate is the closest access point from Arusha making it one of the busiest entrances to the crater. 

There is an NCCA office here where you will get your permit to enter the crater. If you are coming with Tanzania Safaris, we will be the ones to go into the office and pay for the permits. 

There is also a small visitor’s center where you can get maps and learn more about the Ngorongoro Crater. If you’re hungry, there is a small shop that sells beverages and snacks. There’s also a small kiosk where you can buy souvenirs. 

After paying for the permit and allowing everyone to look around, the safari guide will ask everyone to get back in the vehicle so your safari can begin. 

Starting Your Trip to Ngorongoro

Whether you’re planning to fly or drive to Ngorongoro, Tanzania Safaris company can plan all the logistics for you. Just let us know your preferred way of getting to the park. You can always plan your trip to Ngorongoro Crater with other northern circuit parks  so you have more opportunities to see the stunning landscape and wildlife of Tanzania!