Ngorongoro Crater

The world’s largest intact caldera

Ngorongoro Crater is the largest intact caldera in the world. It formed 2.5 million years ago, when a massive eruption caused the volcano to collapse in on itself.  According to geologists, the volcano must have been over 4,500 meters high and the depression formed by the explosion has impressive dimensions. It has a diameter of 20 km, is 600 meters deep and covers an area of about 265 km².

Inside the caldera, patches of acacia, lakes, savannahs and wetlands alternate. A variety of ecosystems that attract animals in large numbers. It’s estimated that more than 25,000 individuals of many different species live inside Ngorongoro Crater.  

On the shores of Lake Magadi it’s easy to observe flocks of flamingos and crowned cranes, but also wildebeest and zebras, while hippos prefer the marshy area. And for anyone hoping to see the Big Five, a safari in the caldera is an experience not to be missed.

The crater is part of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, located in the Crater Highlands region of Tanzania, and extends from Serengeti National Park to the Rift Valley. The area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Also, as a conservation project, Maasai communities have the right to settlement in the Ngorongoro region.