Established in 1959 as a multiple land use area, with wildlife coexisting with semi-nomadic Maasai pastoralists practicing traditional livestock grazing, it includes the spectacular Ngorongoro Crater, the world’s largest caldera.
Ngorongoro Conservation Area is in northern Tanzania. It’s home to the vast, volcanic Ngorongoro Crater and “big 5” game (elephant, lion, leopard, buffalo, rhino).
The Crater is located within the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, a protected region in Tanzania that comprises a large chunk of the southern Serengeti's short-grass plains and the Ngorongoro Highlands, a range of ancient volcanoes on the west side of the Great Rift Valley.
Formed over 2 million years ago, the Ngorongoro Crater is a geological marvel spanning 260 square kilometers and home to an extraordinary ecosystem. The crater floor hosts one of the densest concentrations of wildlife in Africa, including the Big Five and over 500 bird species.
Ngorongoro Crater National Park is a world-famous wildlife conservation area in northern Tanzania, centered around the Ngorongoro Crater—the largest intact volcanic caldera on Earth.
A Complete Guide to visiting Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania with location, attractions, activities and accommodation options.
Ngorongoro Crater, extinct volcanic caldera in the Eastern (Great) Rift Valley, northern Tanzania. It lies 75 miles (120 km) west of the town of Arusha. The caldera measures between 10 and 12 miles (16 and 19 km) across and has an area of 102 square miles (264 square km).
As the world’s largest inactive volcanic caldera, the Ngorongoro Crater offers one of the best Tanzanian safari experiences. With its unparalleled density of wildlife and breathtaking landscapes, this natural wonder is known as Africa’s Garden of Eden.