•size: 100 square miles
•Referred to as the 8th wonder of the world
• World’s largest intact volcanic caldera
• Densest concentration of large animals
• Rhinos, bull elephants and black-manned lions
Ngorongoro crater is the world’s largest inactive, and unfilled volcanic caldera. This geological masterpiece was formed as a result of an extremely large volcanic explosion which caused the volcano to collapse in on itself. Today the crater forms a bowl of 20 kilometers (12.5 miles)wide with side up to 610 meters (2000 feet) deep and 304 square kilometers (188sq miles).The crater is dynamic ecosystem with diverse vegetation, woodland and forest covers the edges of the crater, there are two forests in the crater and several swamps. The extremely fertile crater floor is the reason why there is such a highly concentrated of Fauna and Flora. All these varied environments attract wildlife to drink, wallow, graze, hide or climb. Although animals are free to move in and out of this contained environment, the rich volcanic soil, lush forest and spring source lakes on the crater floor combined with fairly steep crater sides tend to confine both grazers and predators to remain throughout the year. With very few exceptions, practically every species of African plains mammal can be found on the crater floor, including some of the only remaining black rhinos in the world.
How to experience:
Mount Kilimanjaro stands 5895 meters (19340) feet above sea level. Mount Kilimanjaro is the world’s most accessible high summit, most climbers reach the crater rim with little more than a walking stick, proper clothing, you need to be in a fit and healthy state with a good all-round condition and determination as well.
Ngorongoro is home to lush green, rain-forest vegetation, as well as desert plants. The area has uncultivated lowland vegetation, arid and semi-arid plant species, abundant short grass used for grazing, and highland forest. The crater basin is covered by open short grass plains with fresh and brackish water lakes, marshes, swamps, and two patches of acacia woodland. The Lerai forest is home to the Yellow fever acacia trees while Laiyanai forest has pillar wood and some acacia lahai. The undulating plains to the west are grass-covered with occasional Umbrella acacia and Commiphora Africana trees. Blackthorn acacia and Zebra wood dominate in the drier conditions beside Lake Eyasi. This extensive grasslands and bushlands are rich, relatively untouched by cultivation, and support very large animal populations.
The crater floor boasts one of the highest carnivore density in the world including large prides of lions, packs of hyenas, jackals, leopards are especially found on the rim forest. Elephants in the Lerai forest, large herds of zebra, wildebeests, bushbuck, waterbuck, buffaloes, black rhino, hippos, warthog, eland, troops of baboon and gazelles.
Winding back the hands of time a few thousand years ago, these lands are believed to have originally been occupied by hunters and gatherers. Rolling forward several years on, the native communities were invaded by the migration of the pastoralist communities of Cushitic and Datoga. In the 1800’ˢ, the larger Maasai communities drove out the native and dominated these lands. Since then, the Maasai occupied the area and are living with the environment and wildlife in harmony.
∙ Day game drives in the crater ∙ Cultural visit to the Maasai village ∙ Guided Nature walk on the crater rim ∙ Olduvai Gorge Archeological Museum ∙ Bird watching
3hours drive from Arusha.
All year round
Accommodations Located inside Ngorongoro Conservation Area
- Ngorongoro Crater Lodge
- Ngorongoro Serena Lodge
- Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge
- Ngorongoro Rhino Lodge
- Highlands Lodge
- Lion’s Paws Lodge
- Lemala Tented Camp
Accommodations Located outside Ngorongoro Conservation Area
- Ngorongoro Farm House Lodge
- Neptune Luxury Lodge
- Gibbs Farm Lodge
- Oldeani Mountain Lodge
- Acacia Farm Lodge
- Kitela Lodge
- Tloma Mountain Lodge
- Ngorongoro Coffee Lodge
- Marera Valley Lodge
- Bougainvillea Safari Lodge
- Octagon Lodge
- Eileen’s Trees Inn