Ngorongoro Crater

Overview

About Ngorongoro

Ngorongoro Crater is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Africa's most extraordinary natural wonders. Formed two to three million years ago when a giant volcano collapsed inward, the caldera stretches 19 kilometres across and drops 600 metres from rim to floor, creating a vast enclosed arena for wildlife.

The crater floor supports approximately 25,000 large animals in a remarkably small area, making wildlife viewing uniquely concentrated and accessible. Lions are seen almost every game drive. Black rhino — critically endangered across Africa — maintain a protected population here. Elephant bulls wander the floor throughout the year. Hippo pools, flamingo-draped lakes, and wildebeest herds complete the panorama.

The rim itself rises to 2,300 metres, and the views down into the caldera — especially at dawn with mist filling the bowl — are unforgettable. Several of our lodge options sit right on the crater rim for that precise view at sunrise.

Highlights

What Awaits You

• Black rhino sightings — one of Africa's last safe populations
• Tanzania's densest lion density on the crater floor
• Flamingos on Lake Magadi in the crater
• Panoramic rim views at sunrise and sunset
• Maasai boma visits on the caldera rim
• Year-round wildlife — no seasonal variation