Colours of the Ngorongoro Crater
Ngorongoro is the largest unbroken, unfilled and inactive caldera in the world and is of global importance for biodiversity conservation. The crater rim is 19 km in diameter, 610 meter deep and 304 sq km in area. Ngorongoro crater is situated in the Ngorongoro Conservation area and was formed after an eruption about two and a half million years' ago. It is estimated that the volcano stood at a similar height to Mount Kilimanjaro.
Ngorongoro is the home of the Black Rhino too, endangered. A real sight if you get the opportunity! I was lucky to see one on my first ever visit to Ngorongoro. There are around 30,000 animals in the crater such as leopard, elephant, cheetah, buffalo and black-maned male lions. It is a fact that you will not see giraffes in the crater as it is thought too steep for them to move in and out of the crater, however they are seen around the crater.
As well as the wildlife, the crater has the most incredible light should you be a photographer or artist. It changes throughout the day and I still find it amazing. It changes the landscape remarkably; a great place for sketching, painting, photography.
The area has an abundance of wildlife and also sees the migration of wildebeest, zebra and other animals into the northern plains which is a real sight to behold should you visit Ngorongoro and Serengeti during migration season.
A great deal of archeological research has taken place across the conservation area here, including hominid footprints being found dating back 3.6 million years! The conservation area also contains Olduvai Gorge, one of the most important paleoanthropological sites in the world and was named by Maasai Pastoralists after the sound of a cowbell (Ngoro ngoro).
The area is also called 'the garden of Eden' for its exceptional beauty and visitors to Ngorongoro account for around 60% of all those that travel to Tanzania.
We visit Ngorongoro on our three day, five day, seven day and tailored safaris as we feel it is an exceptional place for visitors for beauty, wildlife, serenity, light and history.
Come and join us.