The Ngorongoro Conservation Area in northern Tanzania is one of Africa’s greatest natural wonders and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Spanning around 8,300 square kilometres of highland plains, savanna and forest between the Serengeti and the Great Rift Valley, it is unique in combining outstanding wildlife with the traditional life of the Maasai, who still graze their cattle here.

The Ngorongoro Crater

The area’s centrepiece is the Ngorongoro Crater, the world’s largest intact volcanic caldera. Its walls enclose a self-contained ecosystem where an extraordinary density of wildlife – including the Big Five – can be seen in a single day, making it one of the best places in Africa to spot black rhino and big-maned lion.

Wildlife

The crater floor supports lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino, hippo, wildebeest, zebra and flamingos on its soda lake, all within a stunning natural amphitheatre.

Beyond the crater

The wider conservation area includes Olduvai Gorge – the “Cradle of Mankind” – the Empakaai and Olmoti craters and rich Maasai culture, adding depth to any visit.