Ngorongoro Crater

Ngorongoro, named by the native Maasai tribe, is often called the “crown jewel” of the Serengeti. This iconic site offers sweeping views over a 2,000-foot drop to the crater floor of a volcanic caldera formed over 3 million years ago. A caldera forms when land collapses after a volcanic eruption. Unique in its structure, Ngorongoro Crater is the world’s largest intact caldera, with an impressive elevation of 10,000 feet at its rim and 5,400 feet at its floor. Ngorongoro is also celebrated as one of the seven natural wonders of the world.

The crater’s ancient eruption spread volcanic ash across the Serengeti, enriching the soil with phosphorus, a mineral that nourishes the short grasses vital to wildebeest, as they need phosphorus for growth. These nutrient-rich grasses cover the southern Serengeti Plain, providing young wildebeests with the strength needed for the migration season during the rainy calving period. Ngorongoro’s unique ecosystem is shaped by the Great Rift Valley escarpment, forming a natural enclosure that restricts animal migration. Within the crater’s 100-square-mile floor lives a diversity of wildlife typical of East Africa. Cool breezes along the rim create a comfortable climate that draws animals into the crater, which supports about 25,000 animals. Lake Magadi, located on the crater floor, is fed by various water sources, providing a habitat where animals, including the endangered black rhino, come to drink.

The Ngorongoro Crater hosts five prides of lions within the crater and three more along its rim, as well as seven clans of hyenas, three of which mainly hunt at night. The hyenas contribute to 80% of the lions’ diet.

Ngorongoro Crater is an exceptional destination for photographic safaris, as animals often venture close enough to the vehicles, allowing for remarkable close-up shots