Ngorongoro, Manyara & Tarangire

The world's largest intact caldera: stay in the Karatu highlands, see the Big Five in a day on the crater floor, and add Lake Manyara, Tarangire's elephants and Olduvai, the cradle of humankind.

This area lies in northern Tanzania, in the middle of the "Northern Safari Circuit", and is usually based in the highland town of Karatu. The core is the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (a World Heritage Site): the world's largest intact caldera, about 19 km across, whose grassy floor is home all year to lions, black rhinos, buffalo, elephants and more, so you can see the "Big Five" in a single day. The northern highlands also offer hikes to the Empakaai and Olmoti craters and Maasai cultural villages. To the west are Olduvai Gorge, the cradle of humankind, the Shifting Sands and the Laetoli footprint site. At the foot of the Rift Valley escarpment to the east is Lake Manyara National Park (tree-top walkway, flamingos) and the Mto wa Mbu cultural village. Further southeast, Tarangire National Park is spectacular in the dry season for its elephant herds and baobab trees. To the southwest, at Lake Eyasi, you can join a hunt with the Hadzabe people. The best season is the dry season from June to October; wildlife can be seen in the crater all year, and from November to May the landscape is lush and there are fewer visitors. Getting there: the drive from Arusha to Karatu takes about 2.5–3 hours, usually by chartered vehicle as part of a safari. We recommend 3–4 days. Notes: time on the crater floor is limited to about 6 hours per vehicle, and the fees are high and should be prepaid with your itinerary; the highlands are cold in the early morning and evening, so bring a jacket; respect the Maasai and Hadzabe people and ask permission before taking photos.

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