Park gates
Park gates of northern Tanzania
The gate you use decides how long you drive, which part of a park you see first and when you need to be on the road. This guide covers the main gates into the Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Tarangire, with the opening hours, the crater cut-off times and the two Tarangire gates that opened in 2026.
Gate opening hours
The Ngorongoro times below come from the official NCAA guidelines. As TANAPA does not publish gate hours for the national parks online, the Serengeti and Tarangire times were confirmed by our team in Arusha in November 2026, and they match printed park maps and operator guides.
| Park | Gates open | Please note | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Serengeti National Park | 06:00 to 18:00 | Some guides give a last entry of 16:00 at Ndabaka and Klein's Gate. | Confirmed by our team in Arusha, November 2026. TANAPA does not publish gate hours online. |
| Ngorongoro Conservation Area | 06:00 to 18:00 | Crater descent gates close at 16:00. Crater exit gates close at 18:00. | Official, from the NCAA visitor guidelines. |
| Tarangire National Park | 06:00 to 18:00 | The same hours apply at every TANAPA and NCAA gate. | Confirmed by our team in Arusha, November 2026. TANAPA does not publish gate hours online. |
If you are driving from the crater to the Serengeti, we recommend leaving the rim by early afternoon at the latest. The road to Naabi Hill Gate takes two to three hours, the gate can be busy, and you still need time to reach your camp before driving in the park ends at 18:00.
Serengeti National Park
The Serengeti covers almost 15,000 km², so the gates are far apart. Drive times are estimates for a safari vehicle and depend on the state of the road.
Naabi Hill Gate
The main gate for safaris coming from Arusha and the Ngorongoro Crater, on the south-eastern edge of the park where the Ngorongoro Conservation Area ends. Most northern circuit itineraries enter the Serengeti here, so it can be busy in the middle of the day.
- Side
- south-east
- From the crater
- 2 to 3 h by road
- To Seronera
- about 1 h, 60 km
Ndabaka Gate
The western gate, on the Mwanza to Musoma road near Lake Victoria. It opens onto the Western Corridor and the Grumeti River, so it is the natural entrance for travellers starting in Mwanza.
- Side
- west
- From Mwanza
- about 140 km
- To Seronera
- about 3 h
Fort Ikoma Gate
A gate on the north-western boundary next to Ikoma village, close to the lodges and camps in the Ikoma area just outside the park. The Fort Ikoma airstrip lies nearby.
- Side
- north-west
- To Seronera
- about 1 h
Machochwe Gate
A smaller gate in the north-west of the park, in Serengeti District. Printed maps place it towards the Lamai area and the Mara River, and there is a campsite at the gate.
- Side
- north-west
Klein's Gate
The north-eastern gate, which leads out of the park towards Loliondo. It is the gate to use if you are driving on from the northern Serengeti to Lake Natron.
- Side
- north-east
- To Lake Natron
- 4 to 5 h by road
Bologonja Gate
The far northern gate on the Kenyan border. The tourist crossing from here into Kenya's Maasai Mara is closed, and no reopening date has been announced. Travellers combining the two parks fly between them or go by road through Arusha and the Namanga border.
- Side
- north
- Kenya crossing
- closed to tourists
Ngorongoro Conservation Area
The conservation area is managed by the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority (NCAA), so its rules differ from those of the national parks. Each NCAA permit covers one entry and is valid for 24 hours, which means that leaving to stay in Karatu and coming back the next day needs a new permit.
Loduare Gate
The main entrance to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, on the road up from Karatu. The NCAA has an information point at the gate. From here the road climbs through the forest to the crater rim and the descent roads.
- From Karatu
- about 30 min, 15 km
- To the rim
- 30 to 45 min
Crater descent and exit
The crater floor is reached by steep roads that start on the rim. Descent gates close at 16:00 and exit gates close at 18:00, so most visitors go down early in the morning.
- Last descent
- 16:00
- Out by
- 18:00
Naabi Hill Gate
On the north-western side of the conservation area, Naabi Hill is where you leave Ngorongoro and enter the Serengeti. The road from the crater to Naabi Hill is one of the roughest stretches of the northern circuit.
- From the crater
- 2 to 3 h, 85 km
Tarangire National Park
Tarangire had two new gates in 2026, although for most visitors starting in Arusha the main gate is still the one to use. All Tarangire gates open at 06:00 and close at 18:00.
Main gate
The entrance used on almost every itinerary from Arusha, in the north of the park off the Arusha to Dodoma road at Kwakuchinja. The road is tarmac apart from the last few kilometres of gravel to the gate, and the gate is close to the Tarangire River, where the elephant herds gather in the dry season.
- Side
- north
- From Arusha
- about 2 h, 120 km
Mamire Gate
A new gate on the western side of the park in Babati District, opened by TANAPA on 23 April 2026. It is meant for visitors coming from Dodoma, Singida and the Manyara region, including those who reach Dodoma on the Standard Gauge Railway. For travellers starting in Arusha, the main gate is still the more convenient entrance.
- Side
- west
- Opened
- 23 April 2026
Lemiyoni Gate
A second new gate opened in 2026, used by lodges just outside the northern boundary. Nimali Tarangire says it is about 15 minutes from the lodge, compared with about 45 minutes to Boundary Hill Gate. The new road crosses black cotton soil, so after heavy rain guides may still use the older route.
- Side
- north
- Opened
- 2026
Boundary Hill Gate
A gate on the eastern side of the park, used by the camps and lodges in the community areas outside the park boundary.
- Side
- east
Sangaiwe Gate
A gate on the western side of the park near Lake Burunge, close to the main road to Dodoma. It is still in use alongside the new Mamire Gate.
- Side
- west
What you need at the gate
- Bring your passport on every park day. The TANAPA tariff states that proof of identity is mandatory at the gate, and it also confirms which fee category applies to you.
- TANAPA fees are paid electronically through the government payment system, and cash is not accepted at the gates.
- National park permits allow more than one entry while they are valid. A day-trip permit is valid for twelve daylight hours and a sleep-over permit for 24 hours.
- Ngorongoro permits are single entry and valid for 24 hours, and NCAA entry and camping fees must be paid within 24 hours of entering.
- Walking in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, for example at Empakaai Crater, needs an armed NCAA ranger.
The fees themselves are listed on our Tanzania park fees and Ngorongoro Crater fees pages.
Frequently asked questions
What time do the Serengeti gates open and close?
Serengeti gates open at 06:00 and close at 18:00, and driving in the park is allowed only between those hours. Our team in Arusha confirmed these times in November 2026, and they match printed park maps and operator guides. Some guides say Ndabaka Gate and Klein's Gate stop admitting visitors at 16:00, so it is best to arrive at those gates by mid-afternoon.
Which gate do most safaris use to enter the Serengeti?
Most safaris from Arusha enter through Naabi Hill Gate, on the south-eastern side of the park, after driving through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Travellers starting in Mwanza usually use Ndabaka Gate in the west, and those continuing to Lake Natron leave through Klein's Gate in the north-east.
Can you drive from the Maasai Mara to the Serengeti?
There is no direct road crossing for tourists at present, as the crossing at Bologonja Gate, on the border between the northern Serengeti and Kenya's Maasai Mara, is closed to tourists and no reopening date has been announced. To combine the two parks, you can fly between them or go by road through Nairobi, the Namanga border and Arusha, which takes about 4.5 to 6 hours from Nairobi to Arusha including the border crossing.
What time does the Ngorongoro Crater close?
According to the NCAA visitor guidelines, the crater descent gates close at 16:00 and the exit gates close at 18:00. Driving in the conservation area is allowed between 06:00 and 18:00 unless the NCAA gives permission. Most visitors go down into the crater early in the morning, when the gates open.
Which gate should I use for Tarangire?
If you are coming from Arusha, the main gate in the north of the park is the usual choice, as it is about two hours away on tarmac and close to the Tarangire River. The Mamire Gate, opened in April 2026 on the western side, is more convenient if you are coming from Dodoma, Singida or Babati. Guests at lodges just outside the northern boundary may enter through the new Lemiyoni Gate.
Do I need my passport at the park gate?
Please carry your passport on every park day. The TANAPA tariff states that proof of identity is mandatory at the gate, and your passport also confirms which fee category applies to you.
Can you pay park fees in cash at the gate?
TANAPA fees are paid electronically through the government payment system, and cash is not accepted at the gates.
Related pages
Northern Circuit map
Every gate on this page on an interactive map, with the parks and airstrips.
Tanzania park fees 2026
Entry and overnight fees for the Serengeti, Tarangire and Lake Manyara.
Ngorongoro Crater fees 2026
The full NCAA tariff and how the permits work.
Ngorongoro highlands guide
Empakaai, Olmoti, Olduvai Gorge and the other sites around the crater.
Lake Natron and Ol Doinyo Lengai
How to reach the lake from Klein's Gate or from Arusha.
Sources and Maintenance
Where these figures come from
Ngorongoro times, permit rules and the TANAPA payment and ID rules are official. TANAPA does not publish gate hours online, so the Serengeti and Tarangire hours were confirmed by our team in Arusha in November 2026 and checked against printed park maps and operator guides. Drive times are estimates.
- NCAA: Visitor guidelines and procedures (driving hours, crater gate times, single-entry permits, checked 31 October 2026)
- NCAA: Information and contact centres (information point at Loduare Gate, checked 31 October 2026)
- TANAPA: Tariffs 2023/24 (PDF) (clause 49, permit validity, ID at the gate, electronic payment, downloaded 15 September 2026)
- Daily News: Tanzania opens the Mamire Gate (location in Babati District, western side, checked 4 November 2026)
- ATTA: Tanzania opens new Mamire Gate (opening on 23 April 2026, checked 4 November 2026)
- ATTA: Nimali Tarangire update (Lemiyoni Gate, 22 October 2026)
- Serengeti Park Tanzania: Entrance and exit gates (gate hours, Ndabaka and Klein's last entry at 16:00, checked 4 November 2026)
- Africa Adventure Vacations: Serengeti gates (gate hours and locations, checked 4 November 2026)
- Tanzania Serengeti Safaris: Bologonja Gate (no reopening date for the Kenya crossing, updated 4 February 2026, checked 4 November 2026)
- Portfolio Collection: Machochwe campsite (campsite at Machochwe Gate near the Mara River, checked 4 November 2026)
- Karibu Camps and Lodges / GEOIMAG: Northern Safari Circuit map (2026) (printed map, gate locations and hours, read 31 October 2026)
- Saleh Safaris team, Arusha (gate hours for all TANAPA and NCAA gates and Sangaiwe Gate in use, confirmed 4 November 2026)
- Saleh Safaris drive-time reference (operator estimates, last reviewed June to November 2026)
Plan the route around the gates
Tell us where you would like to start and finish, and we will build an itinerary that enters each park at the right gate and at the right time of day.