The feeling of anticipation as you descend the narrow road into the Crater is unparalleled, offering a unique experience distinct from other protected wildlife areas. The Ngorongoro Crater is not only one of the continent’s premier wildlife viewing spots, but also a place of extraordinary wonder and abundance, leaving visitors in awe of the natural world.

As the world’s largest unbroken, inactive, and unfilled caldera, the Ngorongoro Crater spans approximately 19 km (12 miles) in diameter, with its majestic walls rising over 610 m (2000 feet). The crater floor, covering an area of 260 sq km (100 sq miles), is home to over 30,000 animals, including the rare black rhino, which is part of the Big Five. The Crater was formed about 2.5 million years ago when a gigantic volcano erupted and collapsed, once standing as high as Mt. Kilimanjaro.

Today, the crater floor boasts diverse landscapes, from dense mountain forests and woodlands to grasslands, lakes, and swamps. Water sources include the Munge River in the west, the Lerai River in the east, and the Ngotokitok spring, which feeds a swamp.

The crater is dominated by large herds of ungulates, including zebras, wildebeests, elands, Grant’s and Thompson’s gazelles. The Big Five are well represented, with elephants, lions, and buffaloes frequently spotted. Leopards, while rare, can be seen in the forests on the crater rim, and sightings of the very rare black rhino are fairly common. Other residents include serval cats, spotted hyenas, jackals, and occasionally cheetahs.

Birdlife is also abundant, with lesser flamingos populating Lake Magadi, a primarily alkaline lake. Common bird species include ostriches, Kori bustards, crowned cranes, white-backed vultures, black kites, cattle egrets, tawny eagles, and augur buzzards.

Visitors can take a walk along the Ngorongoro Crater rim accompanied by a ranger, following trails created by livestock. The trail winds past moss-covered trees and Masai bomas, offering breathtaking views of the crater below. This is one of the few popular wildlife areas in Tanzania where visitors can explore on foot.

The Ngorongoro Crater is part of the larger Ngorongoro Conservation Area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979. This area features diverse landscapes including dense mountain forests, woodlands, grasslands, lakes, and swamps. It is also home to some of the most important archaeological sites in the world, such as Oldupai Gorge and Laetoli, where evidence of hominids dating back over 3 million years was found, suggesting it could be the birthplace of mankind.

Today, over 40,000 Masai reside in the area, making it one of the only places in Tanzania where human habitation is permitted within a wildlife-protected area. The conservation area borders Serengeti National Park, with visitors needing to drive through it to reach the Serengeti.

No accommodation options are available on the crater floor. Daytime game drives are the norm, with visitors returning to the crater rim before sunset. There are a few exclusive lodges and camps, and one campsite along the rim, all offering breathtaking views of the caldera and unforgettable sunsets.

Most accommodations are located near the small town of Karatu in the Ngorongoro highlands, featuring coffee plantations and beautiful manor houses overlooking coffee fields and rolling hills. Although it takes about an hour to drive from Karatu to the Crater, you will still have an incredible safari experience with more budget-friendly accommodations.