The Ngorongoro Crater and conservation Area boasts the finest blend of landscapes, wildlife, people and acheological sites in Africa. Often called an ‘African Eden’ and the ‘eigth wonder of the natural world’, it is also a pioneering experiement in multiple land use. For Ngorongoro Conservation Area, the idea of multiple land use means to allow humans and wildlife to coexist in a natural setting. Traditional African pastrolists co-operate with Tanzania’s government bodies to help preserve the natural resources of the area and to ensure an experience for tourists.

The Ngorongoro Crater, at 2,286 m. above sea level, is the largest unbroken caldera in the world. Surrounded by very steep walls rising 610 metres from the crater floor, this natural amphitheatre measures 19.2 km in diameter and 304 sq km in area. It is home to up to 30,000 animals, almost half being wildebeest and zebra. Buffalo, elephant, hippo, hyena, jackal, lion, ostrich, serval, warthog, bushbuck, eland, hartebeest, reedbuck, waterbuck and huge herds of both Thomson’s and Grant’s gazelle are easily seen on the crater floor. Thanks to ant-poaching patrols, the crater is now one of the few places in East Africa where visitors can be certain of seeing black rhino. There number is now approaching 20. Leopard may occasionally be spotted in the trees of the surrounding forest while cheetah are present but rarely seen. Large herds of giraffe live on the rim of the crater and will be seen on the drive to Olduvai Gorge and the Serengeti. Countless flamingo form a pink blanket over the soda lakes while more than 100 species of birds not found in the Serengeti have been spotted. The crater, which has been declared a World heritage site, lies within the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, which covers more than 8,000 sq km. It is bounded by Lake Eysai in the southwest and the Gol Mountains in the north. Roughly in the centre is the Olbalal Swamp and the arid Olduvai Gorge.

Open grassland covers most of the crater floor, turning yellow with wild flowers in June. The Makat Soda laje is a great attraction for flamongos and other birds, while predators hide in the marsh to ambush animals that come to drink from the river that feeds the lake. Also on the crater floor are swamps, providing water and habitat for elephant and hippo as well as numerous smaller creatures such as frogs, snakes and serval cats. Game viewing around Lake Makat is especially rewarding large antelope like Zebra and gazelle come to drink, while herds of hippos sunbake in the thick lakeshore mud.

Getting there:
A four hour drive, or one hour flight, from Arusha. A two hour drive from Manyara or Tarangire.

Getting there:
By road from Arush, Moshi or Tanga.