Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania

The Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA), a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is situated 180 km west of Arusha in Tanzania's Crater Highlands. Within this area lies the Ngorongoro Crater, a massive volcanic caldera that is considered one of the seven natural wonders of the world.

The Ngorongoro Crater is the largest intact, inactive, and unfilled caldera on Earth, formed between 2 and 3 million years ago when a massive volcano erupted and collapsed upon itself. The crater's depth is 2,000 feet, and its floor spans an area of 260 square kilometers.

This area is one of the best places in Tanzania to spot the endangered Black Rhino, with a small population thriving in this protected environment. It is one of the few places where the species continues to breed in the wild. Additionally, the Ngorongoro Crater offers excellent chances of encountering leopards and the magnificent black-maned lions. The soda-rich waters of Lake Magadi attract large numbers of flamingos.

The crater is home to a diverse range of wildlife, with approximately 25,000 large animals living within its boundaries, including the endangered black rhino, hippos, wildebeest, zebras, common eland, gazelles, waterbucks, and warthogs. Lake Madagi, located in the southwestern part of the crater, is a habitat for thousands of flamingos.

Notably, the Ngorongoro Crater has the highest concentration of big cats per square kilometer in all of Africa.