The Ngorongoro Crater is the largest unbroken and unfilled volcanic crater in the world. Located in Tanzania’s Ngorongoro Conservation Area, it covers 260 square kilometres and is a haven for over 25,000 animals, including the famous Big Five. This vast, stunning natural bowl is celebrated as one of Africa’s Seven Natural Wonders, attracting visitors with its incredible wildlife and breathtaking scenery.
The crater is like a giant natural zoo without cages. Its landscapes include grasslands, swamps, rivers, and forests, all teeming with wildlife. Here, you can easily see lions, elephants, and rare birds up close. The diverse environments of the crater make it one of the best places in Tanzania to watch wild animals in their natural habitat.
At Ngorongoro, every day is an adventure. Choose from several exciting activities:
These activities help you dive deeper into the crater’s wonders, connecting you more closely with this extraordinary natural world.
Visitors can choose to travel by small planes to various parks in the circuit or drive through them in a safari vehicle. The journey from Serengeti’s Seronera area or Lake Manyara National Park to the crater takes about 3 and 2 hours respectively.
To reach Arusha, most travellers fly into Kilimanjaro International Airport, close to the city.
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About 2.5 million years ago, a big volcano erupted and collapsed. This formed the large, round hole known as Ngorongoro Crater.
Ngorongoro Crater is the largest unbroken volcanic caldera in the world. It's like a giant natural bowl that holds many different animals, making it a unique place where you can see wildlife living together.
The best time to go to Ngorongoro Crater is from June to October. This is the dry season, so it's cooler and you can see lots of animals gathering at water spots.
During the rainy seasons in April to May and November to December, the crater turns green and beautiful. The paths might get muddy, but there are fewer people, so it's quieter and very pretty.
Yes, you can visit local Maasai villages near Ngorongoro Crater to learn about their culture and lifestyle. This is a great way to understand how the Maasai people live and their history with the land.
Ngorongoro Crater is home to a wide variety of animals, including the Big Five: lions, elephants, rhinos, leopards, and buffaloes. You can also see zebras, wildebeests, and many types of birds, making it a fantastic place for wildlife watching.
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