Highlights

The Ngorongoro Crater is one of the regions in Tanzania where you are most likely to see the endangered Black Rhino; a small population is thriving in this idyllic and protected environment, and this is one of the few areas where they continue to breed in the wild.  Chances are also good of encountering leopard and remarkable black-manes lions, flamingos are also engrossed to the soda waters of Lake Magadi.

While the famed Ngorongoro Crater, the world’s largest unbroken caldera, is only about twelve miles across and 102 square-miles of open grassland, it’s home to a high concentration of wildlife year-round—30,000 animals, including the densest population of lions the world, the rare black rhino, and flocks of pink flamingos. This is the one place in Africa where if lucky, you can spot the “Big 5”—a lion, a leopard, a rhino, an elephant, and a buffalo. Ngorongoro Crater ranks right up there among Africa’s must-visit wildlife destinations: Serengeti, Masai Mara, Etosha, Kruger Park, and the Okavango Delta. One of only three UNESCO World Heritage sites in Tanzania (together with the Serengeti and the Selous Game Reserve), the Crater is often called the Eighth Wonder of the World. It lies in the Biosphere Reserve of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, which covers 8,300 square km (3,204 square miles) in northern Tanzania. This reserve was specifically planned to accommodate both the traditional Maasai communities and tourists. You’ll see Maasai villagers grazing their sheep and cattle all over.

History

It has also been believed to have been taller than the famous Kilimanjaro before its inactive volcano collapsed and formed unbroken caldera crater 610 meter deep, 13 mile (20km) wide about 2.5 million years ago. The Ngorongoro conservation area covers about 3185 sq. miles (8250 sq. km), the crater cover about 100 sq. miles (260 sq. km). It is also home to over 3000 different species including the endangered black rhinoceros; the crater has a forest and lake which support ecosystem in the park.