The Ngorongoro Crater

The Ngorongoro Crater is one of the natural wonders of Africa, the largest intact volcanic caldera in the world, a vast green bowl some 600 metres deep and 20 kilometres across, formed when a giant volcano collapsed. Its floor of grassland, forest, lake and swamp is a natural enclosure teeming with an extraordinary density of wildlife, including all of the Big Five and some of the best chances in Africa to see the endangered black rhino, a UNESCO wonder.

What you actually see

• The crater floor - the wildlife-packed caldera bowl.
• The Big Five - lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard and black rhino.
• The black rhinos - a rare chance to see the endangered rhino.
• The crater rim view - the breathtaking panorama down into the bowl.

When to go

June to October, the dry season, is generally best for wildlife viewing and access; the crater is green and beautiful after the rains, though it can be busy year-round. Mornings are best, descending early before the day-tripper vehicles arrive.

Honest expectations

Because so much wildlife is concentrated in a small, accessible area, it can get crowded with safari vehicles, especially around good sightings, which detracts from the wilderness feel. Descending into the crater is by permit and vehicle only, and time on the floor is limited. It is cool and can be misty on the rim. The density of wildlife, though, is astonishing.

Nearby

The Serengeti, Olduvai Gorge and Lake Manyara are on the northern circuit.