Two to three million years ago a giant volcano collapsed, leaving a caldera roughly 260 km² across with walls some 600 metres high. Inside is a self-contained world of grassland, forest, swamp and a soda lake, grazed by tens of thousands of animals - a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The big five - and rhino
Because the crater is enclosed, wildlife is dense and easy to find. Lion, elephant, buffalo and leopard are all here, and the crater is one of the few places in Tanzania where you have a real chance of seeing the endangered black rhino. Flamingos crowd the shallows of Lake Magadi.
On the crater floor
A safari vehicle descends a steep track at dawn and spends the morning on the floor before climbing back to the rim. Uniquely, Maasai herders still graze their cattle here alongside the wildlife, as they have for generations.
Getting there
Ngorongoro is roughly 180 km from Arusha - about three to four hours - and pairs naturally with Tarangire, Lake Manyara or the Serengeti on a longer loop.
It is superb year-round. We can help you build it into a two-day taste or a week-long circuit.
