What is the Ngorongoro Crater?

The Ngorongoro Crater is the remains of a once massive volcano, nearly three million years old, on the eastern border of the Serengeti National Park. Now collapsed and eroded to leave the world's largest unbroken caldera, it forms an extraordinarily fertile ‘bowl’ in the midst of rolling highlands, with permanent water sources and steep sides ensuring that the wildlife that thrives here has little reason to leave.

Situated in the midst of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, a wildlife preservation area roughtly the size of Crete, the crater forms an important aspect of the northern Tanzania safari circuit.

Ngorongoro Safaris and Wildlife

The crater is the spectactular stalking ground of around 20,000 to 30,000 wild animals at any one time, the most densely packed concentration of wildlife in Africa. The crater thus holds an astonishing microcosm of East African wildlife within its boundaries, and thus has achieved renown as 'the eighth wonder of the world', and attracts a growing number of visitors each year.

In order to preserve the quality of the experience and the environment, measures have had to be taken to limit the number of people inside the crater at any one time, and safaris are now limited to one per day for each vehicle either as a morning or an afternoon trip. It remains a rewarding safari location, even when time is limited.

Ngorongoro Crater Habitats and Highlights

The Crater comprises areas of grassland, swamps, lerai forest (small patches of forest made up of yellow-barked acacia and yellow fever trees), and Lake Makat, a central soda lake filled by the Munge river.

These habitats attract all kinds of wildlife to drink, wallow, graze or hide, and although the animals are free to move in and out of this contained environment, the rich volcanic soil, lush forests and spring-fed lakes on the crater floor incline both grazers and predators to remain.

Ngorongoro Crater is one of the last remaining areas in Tanzania where you are likely to see the endangered Black Rhino: a small population is thriving in this idyllic and protected environment, and it remains one of the few areas where they continue to breed in the wild.

Crater Lodge Video Download

Please click here to download video footage of The Crater Lodge

Please contact us for bookings / further information
UK: Tel 44 (0) 20 7471 8780
USA: Toll Free 1-866 356 4691
Or




Ngorongoro Crater | Ngorongoro Crater Lodge | Mnemba Island Lodge | Tanzania Odyssey