Ngorongoro Crater

The Ngorongoro Crater is one of Tanzania’s most spectacular natural wonders and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, celebrated for its breathtaking scenery and extraordinary concentration of wildlife. Formed about two to three million years ago when a massive volcano collapsed, the crater is the world’s largest intact volcanic caldera, spanning approximately 260 square kilometers (100 square miles) with walls rising up to 600 meters (2,000 feet) above the crater floor.

Often referred to as the “Eighth Wonder of the World,” the crater is home to an incredible diversity of wildlife, including the Big Five—lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and the endangered black rhinoceros. Its permanent water sources and fertile grasslands support thousands of animals year-round, including zebras, wildebeest, hippos, hyenas, jackals, and numerous antelope species.