Ngorongoro (Karatu), Tanzania: travel guide
Karatu, gateway to Ngorongoro Crater, Olduvai Gorge and highland lakes
Karatu is the gateway town to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, home to the wildlife-packed Ngorongoro Crater and the Olduvai Gorge cradle of humankind.
About Ngorongoro (Karatu)
Karatu is a farming town on the highlands between Lake Manyara and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, and it is the usual overnight base for visiting Ngorongoro Crater. The area is a conservation area rather than a single town, mixing wildlife, pastoral land and high forest.
Ngorongoro Crater is a huge, intact volcanic caldera with a floor full of wildlife, including lions, elephants and hippos, and flamingos on its soda lake. Olduvai Gorge, a site of important early human discoveries, has a small museum, while Empakaai Crater has a lake and a walking path along the rim, and Lake Eyasi is a quieter alkaline lake.
Karatu suits safari travellers and those who want a cooler highland stay. The crater can be visited all year, with the dry months from June to October the most popular.
- Country
- Tanzania
- Currency
- TZS
- Time zone
- Africa/Dar_es_Salaam
- Nearest airport
- LKY
Last updated
Plan a Ngorongoro (Karatu) trip
Top places to visit in Ngorongoro (Karatu)
Empakaai Crater
crater · 4.6 rating · about 5 h · check the fee at the gate
Deep, forest-clad crater with a soda lake and flamingos, a rewarding guided hike far from the crowds.
Ngorongoro Crater Viewpoint
viewpoint · 4.9 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate
Rim overlook with a breathtaking panorama 600 m down into the wildlife-filled caldera.
Olduvai Gorge Museum
archaeology · 4.5 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate
The "Cradle of Mankind" where the Leakeys found early hominid fossils, with an on-site museum overlooking the gorge.
Ngorongoro Crater
crater · 4.8 rating · about 8 h · check the fee at the gate
The world's largest intact volcanic caldera and a natural amphitheatre teeming with lion, rhino, elephant and flamingo.
Lake Eyasi
lake · about 4 h · check the fee at the gate
Rift Valley soda lake and home of the Hadzabe hunter-gatherers and Datoga pastoralists, visited for cultural encounters.
Karatu Town
town · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
Coffee-farming gateway town to Ngorongoro, base for Iraqw cultural visits, coffee tours and lodges.
Things to do
- Ngorongoro Crater Full-Day Safari Wildlife · 10 h · from USD 250 per person
- Lake Eyasi Hadzabe Bushmen Experience Cultural · 6 h · from USD 90 per person
- Olduvai Gorge & Shifting Sands Tour Cultural · 4 h · from USD 60 per person
- Empakaai Crater Hike Nature · 6 h · from USD 80 per person
- Karatu Coffee Plantation & Iraqw Village Tour Cultural · 3 h · from USD 35 per person
Day trips and tours
- Ngorongoro Crater Day Safari 10 h · from USD 250
- Lake Eyasi Cultural Day 7 h · from USD 90
Where to stay in Ngorongoro (Karatu)
- Karatu about TZS 150 per night
Coffee-farm town just outside the Ngorongoro gate with mid-range lodges and farm stays.
- Ngorongoro Crater Rim about TZS 450 per night
Perched lodges on the crater rim with dramatic views straight into the caldera.
Hotels
- Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge 5-star
- Ngorongoro Farm House 4-star
- Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge 4-star
- Country Lodge Karatu 3-star
Getting to Ngorongoro (Karatu)
Airport: Lake Manyara (LKY)
Getting around
- Offroad Vehicle
- Taxi
- Walking
More in Tanzania
Frequently asked questions about Ngorongoro (Karatu)
- What are the top-rated places to visit in Ngorongoro (Karatu)?
- The highest-rated places in our Ngorongoro (Karatu) guide are Ngorongoro Crater Viewpoint, Ngorongoro Crater, Empakaai Crater, Olduvai Gorge Museum.
- Where should I stay in Ngorongoro (Karatu)?
- Our guide covers these areas to stay in Ngorongoro (Karatu): Karatu, Ngorongoro Crater Rim.
- How do I get around Ngorongoro (Karatu)?
- Ways to get around Ngorongoro (Karatu) covered in our guide: Off-road vehicle, Taxi, Walking.
- Which airport is nearest to Ngorongoro (Karatu)?
- The nearest airport to Ngorongoro (Karatu) has the code LKY.