The cradle of life
This ancient volcano imploded many millennia ago, leaving the world's largest intact caldera with 600m-high walls on all sides, creating a self-contained wildlife sanctuary. This natural arena features grassland, forest, marshland and swamp, with Lake Magadi nestled at its heart - which is known for being covered with eye-catching bright pink flamingos.
There is also an abundance of predators who habit the Crater floor, with lion, leopard, cheetah, spotted hyena and side-striped jackal all commonly spotted. The open grasslands house vast herds of zebra, buffalo, wildebeest and gazelle, whilst eland and bushbuck graze in the neighbouring Lerai forest. The lake and its tributaries attract hippopotamus, waterbuck and elephant. The elephant numbers are not overwhelming, but some of the oldest and largest tuskers have residency here - with tusks hitting the floor. You'll also find Tanzania's healthiest population of black rhinos.
The wildlife is famously unfazed by safari vehicles, allowing for incredible up-close encounters (and photos), and when you are not encountering wildlife in the Crater itself, you can soak in the surrounding view.
In 1959, the Conservation Area, including Ngorongoro Crater, received protection under the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Ordinance. The site was allocated for multiple uses, and wildlife roamed the floor adjacent to the livestock of the semi-nomadic Maasai farmers. Protection continues under the Ordinance, with the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority in charge of wildlife conservation. Its concerns include measures to prevent poaching, monitoring invasive species, management of tourism and infrastructure control.
The Ngorongoro Crater is only a part of a much larger ecosystem – the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The magical Crater is a major attraction, but the Conservation Area is also home to off-the-beaten-track areas such as Empakai Crater (a smaller and water-filled Ngorongoro) and the forests that lead towards the active volcano of Oldoinyo Lengai. These remote areas are among Tanzania's hidden gems.
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