Is it accurate that there is a 6 hour time limit for game drives within the Ngorongoro Crater? I have read conflicting information and am trying to plan my 2 days there. Thanks

That's what I understand. They only allow each license plate in for one 6 hour period per day. I think they have dozens of cars going down and try to limit it. Try this website, and maybe email them and ask for an answer to your questions: http://www.ngorongoro-crater-africa....formation.html

The best time (in my opinion) is when the gates open. I think they open at 6 am??
You will have the crater almost to yourself while everyone else is on top eating breakfast!

Do you think 1 descent is sufficient or plan on 2 ?

yes there is a time limit. I really enjoyed being in the crater. Could have easily spent a second day there.

doc

We visited the crater this past August. We paid 2x US$200 for two visits to the crater. Prior to our visit, we had read in our guide books that the US$200 entitled visitors to only 6 hours in the crater. We were therefore surprised and delighted when, upon our arrival, we were assured by the rangers (at Naabi Hill where we entered the NCA) from whom we purchased the permits that each $200 permit entitled us to stay in the crater for a full day. As a result, we were in the crater from 6:30am to 4:30pm, two days in a row.

When we returned home, Sandi of this forum insisted that there was a time limit. Fearing that we had broken the rules, I did a thorough search of the NCAA website. It took me a while, but I did eventually find a note that there is a 6-hour time limit. See if you can find it:

http://www.ngorongorocrater.org/

I have no idea why the rangers told us that we could stay all day. They also told us that we (as self-drivers) didn't need to be accompanied by a guide, but the website indicates that we should have had a guide!

The next time, I would have the rangers write on our permits that we don't need to be accompanied by a guide and that the permit entitles us to stay in the crater all day, so that we are covered should anyone question what we are doing. I would also ask the rangers why the discrepancy from what is given on their website.
Robin

There is a time limit and six hours seems about right,

you can always push it another hour or so if you are seeing something interesting....like a kill.

I was there last August- September also.

Early in the morning it will be cold/chilly..so have a sweater ready,

I remember our guide telling us after we "pushed" out limit that "we have to get out of here now"

The road you use going down into the crater is not the same road you use going up !

<i>The road you use going down into the crater is not the same road you use going up</i>

That depends on which side of the crater you're staying on and which access road(s) you use. The Sopa side road can be used for both descent and ascent though there have also been a few isolated reports of it being used one way only.

Patty

Could be ! I do not know about the Sopa road but thanks for mentioning it .

I stayed at the Serena Lodge and we took one road going down and another road coming back out.

Out guide said the road is not wide enough for two - way traffic , but he did say there is a two-way road on the other side of the crater !

Also to answer ASTYNYC, if your time limit is 6 hours and you push it to 7- 7.5, that is a lot of game driving.!

I was at the Ngorongoro Crater for 2 days and felt the game drives over the two day period were ample.!

Plus it was nice to move on to Lake Manyara and finally see a paved road.!

(Nope, did not see the Tree Climbing Lion at Lake Manyara, you have to be lucky to see him !!)

We were only discussing the US$200 (per 6-hour) crater service fee.

In August 2009, the additional fees were:

US$50 pp per 24 hrs entry permit to the NCA for a non-Tanzanian adult
US$40 per 24hrs foreign vehicle fee (UK registered Land Rover)
And, of course, accommodation. I believe the drive-in rate for Lemala Camp was US$550 pp/pn

So, total of US$1440 for two people for 24 hours with one drive into the crater.

There are certainly cheaper accommodation options available, but visiting the crater is a privilege that you pay for. Robin

The 6 hour limit is not enforced if it is not busy, at least that's what our driver told us in March.

The NCAA certainly weren't making any effort to enforce it while we were there, and we weren't the only vehicles in the crater beyond the six hour limit. It's odd that there aren't any signs posted at the top of the (two) descent roads or anything on the permits indicating that there is a time limit. This would seem to suggest that there is some flexibility allowed by the NCAA, which is certainly what we experienced in August, with the rangers at Naabi Hill telling us that each US$200 permit entitled us to be in the crater for a full day. Robin

Is one enough? Probably, but if you have a choice of lounging at at your lodge/tent, going for a crater rim walk, or heading back into the crater, I'd choose another crater visit if your budget can afford it. I've never limited myself to one 6 hour crater visit.

So that 6-hour visit is still up for debate. Seems it has been for the last half a decade.

I think Sopa Lodge (or tented Lemala) for the private access road is the way to go, having tried both this road and the main road.

So are you going to the crater right after Manyara?

yes - we spend two nights in Tarangire (KikotiTented Camp), then either Manyara or mountain bike from the Rift to manyara lake, overnight at Bougainvillea (should I change to Migunga in Manyara?) and then next day, I want to spend afternoon in the crater until end of day (planned overnight at Rhino) and then head into the crater again the next morning very early. What do you think?

If it were me, I would definitely visit the crater twice - expensive, but well worth it, and you will have travelled a long way to see it.

We certainly had better sightings in the crater at dawn (than later in the day), but there was still plenty to see in the afternoon. However, if you go as soon as the gates open (6:30am), you'll beat the crowds. It doesn't say on Rhino Lodge's website how long it will take to drive to the crater from the lodge, but make it clear to your guide that you want to be at the gate when it opens. Some lodges feed their guests breakfast before taking them into the crater, and they don't appear until 8:00 or 8:30am. Have Rhino pack your breakfast and lunch. You don't want to miss those first couple of hours! Robin

Thanks for the tip. I will make sure to be at teh gate at dawn!

If you're using Rhino's guide/vehicle, they may not accommodate you with an early entry to the crater floor. Unless, of course, there are other guests who also wish same. Or, they may assess a fee for exclusive use of vehicle. If you're with your own guide/vehicle, shouldn't be a problem to have a boxed breakfast and getting an early start.