Set in Tanzania’s northern highlands, the Ngorongoro Crater was formed millions of years ago by the collapse of a massive volcano. Spanning around 260 square kilometres, the crater’s floor is now a rich microcosm of wildlife, its grasslands, lakes and acacia forests harbouring a huge variety of big game, including the Big Five.
Visitors can join shared safari drives, or take a private guide and go in search of lions, wildebeest, zebra, elephants, cheetahs, wild dogs and hyena. Sightings of the critically endangered black rhino aren’t guaranteed, but this is the place where you’re most likely to see them. Go to the shores of Lake Magadi and you’re likely to see flocks of bright pink flamingos.
The Crater is within the wider Ngorongoro Conservation Area, a UNESCO-listed site that spans 8,300 square kilometres across Tanzania’s Crater Highlands. The volcanic landscapes here encompass two smaller craters, the sheer cliffs of the Great Rift Valley, and the red-tinted alkaline waters of Lake Natron.