The Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater are the two best-known wildlife areas in northern Tanzania. They are close together, but they offer very different safaris.
The Serengeti
The Serengeti is a vast national park of open plains, kopjes and river valleys. It is the home of the Great Migration, and it is large enough that you can spend several days there and see something different each time. It is the best place to follow the herds and to see lion, leopard and cheetah on the open plains.
Ngorongoro Crater
Ngorongoro is a volcanic caldera with a floor of about 260 square kilometres, enclosed by walls rising some 600 metres. Animals are concentrated in a small area, so a single day can bring lion, hyena, elephant, hippo, flamingos and, with luck, black rhino. It is one of the best places in Tanzania to see rhino.
Which to choose?
- Choose the Serengeti if you want space, the migration and several days of game drives.
- Choose Ngorongoro if you have limited time or want a high chance of seeing many species in one day.
- Choose both if you can. The two are only a few hours apart and complement each other.
Our 4 Days Safari to Serengeti and Ngorongoro is designed to combine them in a compact trip.