On the crater rim
Inside the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, on the rim above the caldera.
Crater-rim campsite · Ngorongoro Crater rim, Tanzania
Simba Campsite
Simba Campsite is the campsite on the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater that our budget safaris use the night before the crater game drive. It sits high on the rim under broad shade trees, and animals such as zebras sometimes wander through.
Camping on the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater.
- Location
- Ngorongoro Crater rim, Tanzania
- Type
- Crater-rim campsite
- Level
- Budget (fixed on our budget itineraries)
- On our safaris
- 13 itineraries
About the property
Staying at Simba Campsite.
Simba Campsite is an independent property that Absolute Holiday Safaris books for its guests; we do not own or operate it. It is the Ngorongoro night on every Absolute budget safari that descends into the crater.
Tents are pitched on open grass beneath large trees, with the crater highlands around you. The campsite is unfenced, and it is not unusual to see zebras grazing between the tents.
Staying on the rim means you can descend into the crater early, when the light is soft and the crater floor is quiet. The rim is high, at over 2,000 metres, and nights are cold, so warm clothing makes all the difference.
Who it suits
- Budget and camping safaris
- Travellers who want an early crater descent
- Adventurous couples and friends
Nearby parks
Zebras grazing among tents at Simba Campsite on the Ngorongoro crater rim
Setting and style
What the stay is like.
Unfenced
Wildlife, including zebras, can move through the campsite; follow your guide's safety advice.
High and cool
At over 2,000 metres the rim is often misty and cold at night, especially from June to August.
Warm layers
A warm jacket, hat and good sleeping layers are essential on the rim.
Meals
As listed in each itinerary day; on camping safaris meals are usually prepared for you.
Shared facilities
This is a campsite, so facilities are simple and shared with other campers.
13 itineraries
Safaris that stay at Simba Campsite.
Each of these budget itineraries includes at least one night here. Group-joining departures follow the published route; private safaris can be adjusted.
4 days · Tanzania · Private or group
4 Days Tarangire, Ngorongoro, Serengeti & Lake Manyara Safari
The northern circuit in four days
Wildlife safari · Budget
Northern Tanzania's highlights at speed: Tarangire, a night in the Lake Manyara area, an afternoon and morning in the Serengeti and a final day in the Ngorongoro Crater.
USD 830 pp
Group joining4 days · Tanzania · Group joining
4 Days Mesmerizing Wildebeest Migration Safari
Two nights in the Serengeti, then the crater
Wildlife safari · Budget
A Serengeti-focused safari from Arusha with an afternoon arrival drive, a full day following the herds where they are that season, and the Ngorongoro Crater on the way back.
Price on request
Group joining5 days · Tanzania · Group joining
5 Days Best Tanzania Budget Safari Wildlife Adventure
Manyara, the Serengeti and the crater
Wildlife safari · Budget
Five days on a budget across northern Tanzania, with Lake Manyara, two nights in the central Serengeti and a final day in the Ngorongoro Crater.
Price on request
6 days · Tanzania · Private
6 Days Complete Tanzania Camping Safari
Three nights in the Serengeti
Wildlife safari · Budget
A private camping safari with three nights in the central Serengeti, giving you two full days to follow the herds, plus Tarangire and the Ngorongoro Crater.
Price on request
Group joining6 days · Tanzania · Group joining
6 Days Stunning Tanzania Shared Northern Circuit Safari
Join other travellers on the northern circuit
Wildlife safari · Budget
A shared budget safari through Tarangire, Lake Manyara, the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater, travelling with other guests to keep costs down.
Price on request
7 days · Tanzania · Private
7 Days Exciting Tanzania Budget Safari – Private
A private safari at budget rates
Wildlife safari · Budget
A private budget safari with three nights in the Serengeti, plus Tarangire, Lake Manyara and the Ngorongoro Crater.
Price on request
Also staying here
- 8 Days Kenya & Tanzania Budget Safari1 night
- 10 Days Kenya Tanzania Wildlife Safari1 night
- 10 Days Kenya Tanzania Budget Safari Adventurous Experience1 night
- 11 Days Best of Kenya & Tanzania Budget Safari1 night
- 12 Days African Safari Holiday in Kenya & Tanzania1 night
- 13 Days Kenya & Tanzania Budget Camping Safari1 night
- 14 Days Kenya & Tanzania Budget Safari1 night
Questions travellers ask
About Simba Campsite.
Where is Simba Campsite?
On the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater, inside the Ngorongoro Conservation Area in northern Tanzania.
How cold is Simba Campsite?
It can be very cold at night, especially in June to August, because the rim is over 2,000 metres high. Bring warm layers.
Do animals come into Simba Campsite?
Sometimes. The campsite is unfenced and animals such as zebras may graze nearby. Stay with your guide's safety advice, especially after dark.
Which safaris stay at Simba Campsite?
Our budget safaris that include the Ngorongoro Crater, usually the night before the crater game drive.
Stay at Simba Campsite
Build a safari around it.
Tell us your dates and who is travelling, and we will suggest the itinerary that suits you, or quote an upgrade for any night.