Ngorongoro Crater

The Ngorongoro Crater is perhaps the greatest self-contained wildlife sanctuary in the world. A huge, fully intact caldera (collapsed volcano), the crater stretches for some 18 kilometres between precipitous slopes—the 2,000ft high walls that form the crater’s rim. On its floor is found a landscape of golden savannah plains and shimmering soda lakes fed by freshwater springs, which sustains a huge diversity of wildlife, including species not present in the nearby Serengeti plains. This combination of dramatic scenery and prolific wildlife creates in Ngorongoro a spectacle unlike anything else in Africa.

Ngorongoro Crater is over 100 square miles in size (it is thought that the volcano whose collapse precipitated its formation was taller than Kilimanjaro, which should give some indication of just how gargantuan it is!) Words and pictures struggle to capture the sheer scale of Ngorongoro; you have to visit the site, and look down from the rim of the crater to its floor, in order to really appreciate its magnitude.

Ngorongoro forms a natural sanctuary. The animals that populate the Crater have survived in it for many millions of years, protected by the high crater walls and the moderate climate. With plentiful water and grass for grazers to feed on, and ample game for the resident lion, leopard and hyena to hunt, the crater provides the perfect conditions for life—and for game-viewing.

On the flat floor of the crater, your view extends for miles, meaning you never have to look hard to spot the wildlife. Gazelle and zebra graze on the open plains, while hyena and jackal lope by, ready to prey on any stragglers. Buffalo can be seen from miles away, stampeding in their brazen herds. Elephant, altogether more discrete, nestle in the forests at the crater’s rim, where they feed on the bark of acacia trees. Lion prides loll aimlessly in the mid-day sun, while cheetah, ever-alert, are occasionally sighted on the rocky kopjes, surveying the landscape. 4x4 safaris here are always rewarding.

The Ngorongoro Crater is the defining feature of the broader Ngorongoro Conservation Area, a vast region that spans highland plains, golden savannah, dense woodland, and tall volcanic peaks (several of which can be climbed). Though the Crater is the region’s most famous landmark, it is not the only site of interest. Olduvai Gorge, at the foot of the Crater Highlands, is a remote gorge now world-famous as an archaeological site where many of the most important discoveries about early humankind were made. Until not long ago, the oldest known human remains were thought to be at Olduvai (recent digs in Ethiopia and Kenya have unearthed older bones).

The Crater Highlands have all the hallmarks of a lost world, though they have in fact been inhabited by the local Maasai tribespeople for many years - the Maasai are the only people allowed to live within the conservation area, in respect of their long association with the region. Many of the region’s natural landmarks, including Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Ndutu, and Ol Doinyo Lengai (the ‘Mountain of God’), are cultural and spiritual landmarks for the Maasai people, and any journey into the Ngorongoro Conservation Area should be treated as an opportunity to learn more about the land’s people, as well as its wildlife and geography.

In and around Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area, with the famous Crater at its centre, is among the most beautiful regions of Tanzania, steeped in early human history and teeming with wildlife. 4x4 safaris into the Crater are of course the main attraction. Note that visits are restricted – you can enter the Crater once daily for up to six hours. Typically you’ll depart mid-morning, descend into the Crater for game-viewing and a picnic lunch on the plains, and then return to your camp/lodge late afternoon; though some safari-goers will prefer an early start to avoid the vehicle traffic. There are a number of marvellous hotels/lodges on or close to the Crater's rim, as well as quieter guest houses in the remote highlands and in the highland town of Karatu. Ask us for suggestions.

Olduvai Gorge is very easy to access when travelling from Ngorongoro to the Serengeti, and has become a standard stop on most itineraries. Though often busy with visitors, it is worth the time for anyone with even a passing interest in palaeontology. The Gorge, remote and desolate, presents a dramatic spectacle, and there is also a fascinating museum at the site where you can learn more about the discoveries made in the early 20th-century, and the light they shed on our very distant ancestors.

If you’re wanting to escape the popular tourist routes, we offer a number of alternative itineraries in the Ngorongoro Highlands. Our unique acclimatisation safaris will take over 3,000m to the summit of Ol Deani or Mt Lemagurut—perfect preparation for an attempt on Kilimanjaro! You can combine this with a visit to the Ngorongoro Crater and even the Serengeti. Our light mobile safaris, on the other hand, will take you away from the busy national parks, into the "Maasai Lands" and the Great Rift Valley, and then up into the Ngorongoro Highlands, where you can set up private camp on the rim of one of the lesser craters, far removed from the crowds!