"Ngorongoro Crater - Eighth Wonder of the World?!!" Top 5 Page for this destination Ngorongoro by jackfruit

Ngorongoro Travel Guide: 143 reviews and 484 photos

The Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA) covers some 8,300 square kilometers in northern Tanzania. It boasts of the finest blend of landscapes, wildlife, people and archaeological sites in Africa. It is also a pioneering experiment in multiple land use where the nomatic pastoral Maasai grow crops and live amongst the wildlife of the region.

Ngorongoro Crater is part of the NCA. The landscape of Ngorongoro is shaped by rifts and volcanoes. Ngorongoro Crater is in fact a caldera, not a crater. A crater is a volcanic depression. A caldera is a form of crater that is formed by the collapse of the volcanic mountain. Ngorongoro caldera was created by a volcanic collapse of the mountain that stood there a few million years ago, the height of which can be imagined today by staring at the steep crater walls. It is the world's largest caldera that has remained unflooded.

Today, the crater hosts a spectacular array of wildlife, the most famous of them being the elusive Rhino. If you are lucky, you will spot one or more of the 18 remaining rhinos in this crater. We were lucky enough to spot a mother-baby pair!

Lions, water buffalo, zebra, elephants, thompson's gazelle and warthogs are just a few of the wildlife that call Ngorongoro thier home. Giraffe is the only animal that doesnt reside here, due to the steep walls of the caldera.

Although the Maasai arent allowed to live inside the crater boundaries, you might see maasai herdsmen in the crater during the day - Maasai are allowed to graze thier cattle in the crater for a few hours a day.

Pros and Cons

Pros:Lots of wildlife, a rare chance to see the elusive rhino
Cons:Can get crowded with safari tourists!
In a nutshell:Simply breathtaking!

Last visit to Ngorongoro: Nov 2003
Intro Updated Feb 29, 2004
Add to Trip Planner (?)
Report Abuse

Reviews (9)

Safari Vehicle Transportation (1)

Because of the steep and rough roads that descend into the crater, only 4X4 vehicles are allowed access into the crater.... more travel advice

African Spoonbill Things to Do (4)

Among the rich birdlife that Ngorongoro Crater boasts, the African Spoonbill is a great specimen! The spoonbill can be... more travel advice

Flamingos Things to Do (4)

Lake Magadi is the soda lake at the center of the Ngorongoro crater. The pink line in the horizon as you approach the... more travel advice

White Rhino in Ngorongoro Crater - Ngorongoro

The Elusive Rhino Things to Do (4)

White Rhino live in the Ngorongoro caldera but are very hard to spot. They tend to stay in the woodland area during the... more travel advice

Hotels (1)
Overnight on the rim of the crater
Been to Ngorongoro?
Share your travels with the world!

Travelogues (3)

1 - 3 of 3

Comments (12)

Reply
- Report abuse
MikeBird Jul 4, 2008 at 2:13 PM

the Hippo - sure it wasn't dead? Really greattips though thanks, Mike
Reply
- Report abuse
grets Feb 8, 2007 at 6:26 AM

Hi Sunita - I had to laugh at your bush-toilet experience. I had the same 'problem' in the Masai Mara. LOL The lodge looks great. Who did you book your safari with - we are hoping to go in July.
Reply
- Report abuse
PeteG May 10, 2006 at 7:22 AM

Really enjoyed your pages. Lovely pictures!
Reply
- Report abuse
stavlois Aug 2, 2005 at 2:52 PM

excellent page, indeed the zebras photos are excellent.
Reply
- Report abuse
LuisGuimaraes Jan 13, 2005 at 4:11 PM

"Zebras grazing in the crater" and "Elephants in the crater bowl" are 2 of the best photos on VT!
Reply
- Report abuse
Myndo Jun 14, 2004 at 12:03 PM

Wonderful done pages on Ngorongoro. Seems you had the same experiences as we did - and enjoyed it as well. I have never seen a hippo wrong side up, though. You sure it was alive?
Reply
- Report abuse
seamandrew May 2, 2004 at 12:09 AM

Jeesh, this page just blew me away. Sounds fascinating. I've seen documentaries on National Geographic Channel about Ngorongoro Caldera. Your pictures and tips make it hard to resist the urge to buy a ticket to Tanzania right now!
Reply
- Report abuse
mtncorg Feb 27, 2004 at 12:51 PM

Asante for more great tips. More great reasons to extend a Tanzanian vacation.
Reply
- Report abuse
laughingsun69 Feb 8, 2004 at 4:33 PM

Hi great pages they bring back memories for me of how awsome this place is,Thanx!!
Reply
- Report abuse
Waxbag Feb 4, 2004 at 11:22 AM

Oh Yeah, an upside down hippo. I have one on my Hwange, Zimb Page too. I thought I had seen the only one!