Ngorongoro Crater

The Ngorongoro Crater is one of Africa's most distinctive landscapes and a highlight of Tanzania's northern safari circuit. It formed millions of years ago when a large volcano collapsed in on itself, leaving the world's largest intact volcanic caldera: a wide, enclosed floor ringed by steep walls. The crater lies inside the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

Down on the floor you find open grassland, patches of forest, swamps and Lake Magadi, a shallow soda lake where flamingos gather when conditions suit them. Because the animals live in a relatively enclosed space, a single game drive can bring lion, buffalo, elephant, zebra, wildebeest, hippo and hyena, and with some luck the black rhino. It is one of the best places in Tanzania to look for the Big Five, although no visit can promise all five.

Most visits start on the crater rim, with wide views across the caldera, before the drive down to the floor. The mix of scenery and wildlife makes it a favourite with photographers.

We usually reach Ngorongoro by road from Arusha, and it pairs naturally with the Serengeti, Tarangire and Lake Manyara. Domestic flights to nearby airstrips are possible if you would rather spend less time on the road. One day is enough for a crater game drive; two or more let you combine it with other parks.