Distance from Arusha to Ngorongoro crater
Distance from Arusha to Ngorongoro crater: Ngorongoro crater also known as Ngorongoro conservation area is a protected area in Tanzania and a World Heritage Site situated in the northern Tanzania, Ngorongoro conservation area hosts the Ngorongoro crater which is the main feature in the conservation area and the world’s largest unbroken volcanic caldera featuring 2,000 feet of depth and 260 square kilometers of width.
Ngorongoro conservation area is a great destination for Tanzania safaris covers an area of 8,292 square kilometers hosting millions of wildlife species and over 500 recorded bird species. Animals in the crater include giant tusked elephants, rhinos, zebras, gazelles, African wild dogs, servals, caracals, lions, leopards, cheetahs, and many more. Birds in include ostrich, kori bustards, crowned cranes, secretary birds, Jackson’s widow birds among others.
Arusha city is a major tourist hub in Tanzania situated in the north eastern region of Tanzania in Arusha region and lies below Mount Meru on the eastern edge of the eastern branch of the Great Rift Valley, Arusha is considered as a safari capital in Tanzania and is situated close to many national parks in Tanzania most those situated in northern safari circuit including Arusha national park, Ngorongoro conservation area, Tarangire national park, Mount Kilimanjaro national park and Lake Manyara national park.
Most Tanzania safaris begin from Arusha including safaris to Ngorongoro conservation area, from Arusha city to Ngorongoro conservation area it is a distance of approximately 191 kilometers west of Arusha. Getting to Ngorongoro crater from Arusha road and air means of transport are used to connect to the crater by travelers.
By road: by road, Arusha Highway to Ngorongoro crater is used. When using road transport a 4X4 wheel car is recommended to be used.
By Air: by air transport both domestic and international flights are used to get to Ngorongoro crater as explained more below.
Closet airports to Ngorongoro crater
Kilimanjaro International airport
Kilimanjaro International airport is the main safari gateway to most of the safaris to Tanzania and an international airport located in northern region of Tanzania in Hai District, Kilimanjaro. Kilimanjaro international airport handles both international and regional flights in Tanzania, this airport majorly serves Arusha city and Moshi and most the international flights handled at this airport are for tourists visiting various national parks in Tanzania, Zanzibar and Lake Victoria.
From Kilimanjaro international airport to Ngorongoro crater it is a distance of approximately 230 kilometers which is a drive of about 5 hours.
Arusha airport
Arusha airport is the closet airport to Ngorongoro crater situated in Arusha city a major tourism hub in Tanzania where most safaris to the northern safari circuit start from, Arusha airport is a domestic airport handling domestic flights heading to various national parks of Tanzania including Ngorongoro conservation area.
From Arusha airport, Ngorongoro crater is a distance of approximately 170 kilometers which is a drive of about 3 hours.
Airstrips serving Ngorongoro crater
Ngorongoro conservation is served by a number of airstrips including Lake Ndutu airstrip and Manyara airstrip.
Lake Ndutu airstrip
Lake Ndutu airstrip is located in the southern area of Lake Ndutu in a short distance from the Ndutu ranger post of Ngorongoro conservation area.
Manyara airstrip
Manyara airstrip is another airstrip serving Ngorongoro crater located inside the conservation area
Getting to Ngorongoro crater from other national parks
Ngorongoro crater is a very accessible Tanzania safari destination from other safari destinations such as Maasai Mara, Serengeti national park, Lake Manyara national park and many more. The accessibility of Ngorongoro crater makes it a very easy destination
From Maasai Mara national reserve
Maasai Mara national reserve is a Kenya safari destination and it is very easy to combine it with your safari to Ngorongoro crater, from Maasai Mara national reserve it is a drive of about 5 – 6 hours of drive to Ngorongoro crater. The drive from Maasai Mara national reserve to Ngorongoro crater takes you through the fascinating Serengeti national park.
From Serengeti national park
Serengeti national park is a Tanzania safari situated in the northern safari circuit of Tanzania as Ngorongoro crater, the two protected areas and great Tanzania safari destinations are situated close to each other IS a reason to why most safaris to Ngorongoro crater are combined with Serengeti national park. From Serengeti national park to Ngorongoro crater is a drive of about 1 and a half hours’ of drive.
From Amboseli national park
Amboseli national park is a great scenic Tanzania national park famous for the back drop of Mountain Kilimanjaro the tallest free standing mountain on the continent of Africa and large herds of free ranging elephants. From Amboseli national park it is a drive of about 6-7 hours to Ngorongoro crater.
From Tarangire national park
Tarangire national park is the 6th largest national park in Tanzania located in the Manyara region of Tanzania, from national park to Ngorongoro it is a distance of approximately 180 kilometers which is a drive of about 6 hours.
From Lake Manyara national park
Lake Manyara national park is another Tanzania national park situated in the Manyara region lieing northern safari circuit of Tanzania, this park is one of the small sized parks in Tanzania famously known for the impressive Lake Manyara from which it gets name. From Lake Manyara national park to Ngorongoro crater, it is a drive of about 1.5 hours of drive.
