Why visit the Crater?

A visit to the Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania is top of every wildlife lover’s bucket list. The rich and highly concentrated wildlife, beautiful colours and diversity of flora is outstanding.In the crater you will find yourself inside a breathtaking scenery that can’t be found anywhere else in the world. Read all the 8 reasons why you should visit the Ngorongoro Crater.

1. World’s largest caldera

The crater is the world’s largest unbroken volcanic caldera. Ngorongoro was once an impressive mountain that eventually collapsed, leaving only the crater. This huge crater is 610 metres (2,000 feet) deep and 20 kilometres (12 miles) wide.

2. Natural Wonder of Africa

The Crater was voted as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa mainly cause it’s the largest unbroken caldera in the world and the unique encounter with wildlife. The crater is truly a breathtaking, captivating natural wonder.

3. All big animals

With Ngorongoro’s wildlife remaining in the steep-walled crater all year round, the game viewing is awesome at all times. Wildlife is rich and highly concentrated. Over 25,000 large animals live in the crater including lions, hippos, buffaloes, elephants, zebra, wildebeest, gazelle, cheetahs, jackals, warthogs and hyenas. There are also more than 200 species of birds, including ostriches, ducks and flamingos. This is ‘prime game-viewing country.

4. Rare black rhino

It is one of the best places in Tanzania to see the critically endangered black rhino. There are about 20 black rhino’s living in the Ngorongoro Crater.

5. Big Five

The elephant, rhino, buffalo, lion and leopard are often referred to as the Big Five and can all be seen in the Ngorongoro Crater in all their glory.

6. Spectacular views

The crater floor is mostly open grassland and there aren’t a lot of places to hide, so the animals are everywhere, in plain sight. In almost any direction you look, you will see wildlife.

7. Perfect for photography

The mainly flat and open crater floor is superb for photographic safaris. There is an abundance of animals, beautifully framed against the striking background of the 600-metre high crater wall. The layers of clouds changing from dark, the bright colours of green grasses and blue water make this crater magical and a photographer’s dream.

8. Diversity of flora

The variety of flora in the relatively small area of the crater is remarkable. The floor consists mainly of open grasslands. In thesSouth west there is the Lerai Forest, composed almost entirely of yellow fever trees. To the north of the forest is a shallow soda lake called Lake Magadi – often covered with pink flamingos- and to the east you will find Gorigor Swamp and the Ngoitokitok Springs where pods of hippo are to be found.