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Best time to visit Ngorongoro

Game viewing within the Ngorongoro Crater is excellent all year round. However the best time to visit the park is in the dry season which starts in June, then July, August and September since you can see several animals then.

In Brief

The best time to visit: June, then July, August and September

Peak Season: for most of the year, however from July to March there are so many people within the Crater

Low Season: April and May and this is when there are very few people here.

Best Weather Conditions: June to October since there are fewer rains

Worst Weather conditions: March to April since it is the peak of the wet season

June to October; this is the Dry Season

At this time, it is easy to see the Wildlife since the vegetation is not very thick and the animals normally gather around the various water holes plus rivers. It barely rains and even may never rain at all, although there is plenty of sunshine. There are minimal Chances of getting malaria since there are very few mosquitoes. During this season, The Ngorongoro crater is crowded with tourists. the Mornings as well as the nights are cold so for those going for early morning game drives, we recommend that you take with you warm clothes.

November to May; this is the Wet Season

Even though wildlife is easily seen in June up to September, this amazing Crater presents tremendous game viewing all year round. I has a beautiful green scenery. The low season is in the months of April and May, during which there are fewer Tourists and perhaps lower accommodation rates. During these months, it’s the best time to see birds since there are several migratory birds inside the park. However in March, April as well as May, there are short rains and your afternoons will be interfered with storms.

The peak of the wet season starts in March up to May.

The nights are cold and so are the mornings. It is recommended that you pack some warm clothes

The Ngorongoro highlands’ leeward side has the lasting Oldonyo Lengai which is an active volcano as well as the third highest peak following Mount Meru as well as Mount Kilimanjaro. Locally referred to as the ‘Mountain of God’ the last severe eruption of Mt Lengai occurred back in 2007.  At the bottom of this mountain you will find the stunning Lake Natron a main breeding area for the beautiful flamingoes

 

The name Ngorongoro was actually derived from the word ‘llkorongoro’, in the local Maasai language which means an age band of Maasai warriors who overpowered the earlier area occupants – the Datong back in the 1800s. The Datong as well overpowered their forerunners – the Hadzabe who were a hunting and gathering people. The word Ilkorongoro was got from the rumbling sounds of the bells ‘koh-rohng-roh’ that the Maasai people wore as they were setting out for battle and it is from this that the word ‘Ngorongoro’ was eventually derived.

Ngorongoro Conservation Area’s climate as comparison to that of the Ngorongoro Crater

The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is a huge area with altitude ranging from 1009 to 3645m or 3310 to 1959ft. The majority of people only tend to visit the renowned Ngorongoro Crater. Visitors spend the nights in one of the lodges or campsite found on the edge of the crater and visit the floor of the crater to see the various wild animals. The rim (approximately 2300 meters or 8530ft) and the crater floor (approximately 1700 meters or 5577ft) are at higher altitude and are generally colder than the entire conservation area. The temperatures drop by approximately 6.5°C for each 1000m that you ascend (or by 3.5°F per each 1000 feet). The temperature difference can better be noticed at night. Afternoons on the bottom of the crater are really pleasant; however it turns really in the night. The edge of the crater also receives a lot of rainfall.

 

Ngorongoro Conservation Area’s weather in general

 

Ngorongoro Conservation Area has a moderate temperate climate. The crater has 2 main seasons, the short rains begin in October and last till the finish of November and then  from March to the end of May the long rains start. Normally the rain is experienced as showers as well as thunder later in the afternoon, although it would be weird for it to rain the entire day. It never becomes hot throughout the day, however the edge of the crater becomes cold and it may even turn out freezing at night. You will need Warm clothes if you are taking a game drive in the early morning.

 

Dry season (this starts in June up to October)

June, July, August, September and October

The temperatures in the Afternoon are normally approximately 19°C and 66°F on the floor of the crater. It is really sunny, and the skies are usually however in case the ‘short rains’ begin early they may start in October. It becomes really cold in the night and may even freeze on the edge of the crater. For that reason, we strongly recommend that you carry warm clothes if taking a game drive in the early morning.

Wet season (this starts in November up to May)

The days are really warmer compared to those in the dry season, however mornings are similarly cold. The Afternoon temperatures are normally about 23°C/73°F at the bottom of the crater and at they drop to about 6°C/43°F on the edge of the crater. You may even occasionally experience some freezing temperatures.

November and December(Short rains)

These rains are mostly likely not to affect at all your safari since it doesn’t rain for the entire day. Showers normally come in the afternoon. These ‘short rains’ take approximately a month and may occur between the month of October and December.

January and February

During the wet season, there is a dry spell that falls, however it is really unpredictable when this will happen.

March, April and May‘The Long rains’

During this time, wetness is at its peak. The majority of the days will be rainy, however this won’t last for the whole day. The average highest and lowest temperatures are 21°C or 70°F on the floor of the crater and 6°C or 43°F on the edge of the crater. Because of the cold front, in April and May you could experience cooler weather.
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