Make use of our expertise at Robert Mark Safaris to learn how far it is between the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater national parks, and the best travel routes between them.
From the Serengeti to the Ngorongoro Crater: A classic safari in East Africa
The Serengeti National Park and the Ngorongoro Crater are two important facets of the Tanzanian eco-system – home to some of the best wildlife viewing on the continent, exceptional scenery and classic tented safari camps.
The Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti National Parks are quite closely situated and you can enjoy tranquil walking safaris, cultural experiences with local tribes and excellent game viewing against the backdrop of spectacular vistas within a few days of one another.
These two famous destinations perfectly combine for a quintessential East African safari experience.
So how far apart are the Serengeti to the Ngorongoro Crater?
The Ngorongoro Crater is a massive cavity in the earth’s surface and one of Africa’s most famous wildlife reserves. The Serengeti is probably Africa’s most famous national park, situated north west of the Ngorongoro Crater in northern Tanzania.
The Serengeti Conservation area and the Ngorongoro Crater are technically neighbouring parks, and remaining on the ground it would be about a 150km-long drive to get where you need to be on both ends. That being said, the driving distance and time depends on where your camps are located, and optimum camp location depends on the time of year you are visiting and what you are looking to experience. In reality, it is normally easier and more affordable to fly between these two regions in a light aircraft.
With their nearby locations, the two parks are quite easily explored in under a week.
Travelling from the Serengeti to the Ngorongoro Crater
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is located 180km (110 miles) west of Arusha, and the trip to the Serengeti from there is just over 150km; but driving between the two could mean between 3 and 6 hours of driving time.
Flying between these two parks is normally an easier option, and a more affordable one. Light aircraft networks are relatively well set up in this area and the northern Tanzania safari circuit in general, and moving from a camp in one area to a camp in the next area would involve a short game drive to an airstrip, and only around a 45 minute flight, freeing up more of you time to enjoy the two areas that you are visiting – but we’ll help arrange all of this.
When is the best time to travel from the Serengeti to the Ngorongoro Crater?
Each year around the same time, the great circle of the wildebeest migration begins in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The migration is determined by the rains and grazing patterns, but generally lasts from January to March in this area, during the calving season
The best time to travel to the Ngorongoro Crater is when there is plenty of grass sprouting from the rains which draw in over 250, 000 zebra and more than 1,5 million wildebeest. Calving happens usually during February and it’s a wonderful sight to see more than half a million baby wildebeest playing in the savannah.
As the rains dry up in May, the herds start moving northward towards the Grumeti River, and then head into Kenya in late July and August. River crossings are a popular attraction in July and if you happen to find yourself in the right spot, you may see a crocodile lying in wait try and catch his dinner.
For a better idea of how to plan your travel around the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater area, get in touch with us for a quick chat.
Follow us on Instagram: @robertmarksafaris.com
ROBERT MARK SAFARIS 