UNESCO World Heritage Site
Ngorongoro Crater
Africa's Garden of Eden
Location
Ngorongoro Highlands
Best Time
Year-Round
Crater Size
260 km²
Recommended
1-2 Days
The World's Largest Intact Caldera
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, features the world's largest intact volcanic caldera—the stunning Ngorongoro Crater. This natural enclosure, often called "Africa's Garden of Eden," spans about 260 square kilometers and supports one of the highest densities of wildlife on the continent, with around 25,000 large animals residing on its floor.
It's one of the few places in Tanzania where you can reliably spot the Big Five, including endangered black rhinos, dense lion prides, elephants, leopards, and buffalo. The crater's varied habitats— grasslands, forests, swamps, and a soda lake—attract flamingos, hyenas, jackals, and vast herds of zebra and wildebeest.
The area also coexists with Maasai pastoralists, adding a rich cultural dimension to your safari experience.
Wildlife You Will See
The crater floor is home to an astonishing concentration of wildlife
~30
Black Rhinos
Critically Endangered
~60
Lions
Dense Prides
~300
Elephants
Large Bulls
Thousands
Flamingos
Lake Magadi
~7,000
Wildebeest
Year-Round
~4,000
Zebras
Plains Zebra
~200
Hippos
Hippo Pools
~400
Hyenas
Spotted Hyena
Crater Experiences
Crater Floor Game Drive
Descend 600 meters into the caldera for a full-day game drive, exploring diverse habitats from grasslands to forest edges and the hippo-filled pools.
Maasai Village Visit
Experience authentic Maasai culture with a village visit, learning about their traditions, dances, and how they coexist harmoniously with wildlife.
Olduvai Gorge
Visit the nearby "Cradle of Humankind," where fossils of early human ancestors dating back 2 million years were discovered by the Leakey family.
Why Visit Ngorongoro?
One of the best places in Africa to see endangered black rhinos
Year-round wildlife viewing - animals don't migrate out
Unique volcanic crater landscape unlike anywhere else
Combine wildlife safari with Maasai cultural experiences
Perfect addition to a Serengeti safari circuit
Comfortable crater rim lodges with stunning views
Explore the Ngorongoro Crater
Discover Africa's natural wonder with our expert guides