Ngorongoro Conservation Area

The Ngorongoro Crater is one of Africa's most remarkable natural wonders - a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the world's largest intact, unflooded volcanic caldera. This 260 km² "Garden of Eden" supports the highest density of large mammals anywhere in Africa, with over 25,000 animals living permanently on the crater floor. The crater rim rises 600 meters above the floor, creating a natural amphitheater where wildlife thrives year-round. Unlike other parks where animals migrate, Ngorongoro's residents stay put, making it one of the most reliable places in Africa to see the Big Five. This is one of the few places in Tanzania where you have a good chance of spotting the critically endangered black rhino. Beyond the crater, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area encompasses 8,292 km² of highland plains, forests, and archaeological sites. Olduvai Gorge, located within the conservation area, is one of the most important paleoanthropological sites in the world - where some of our earliest human ancestors were discovered. The area is also home to the Maasai people, who continue to live traditionally alongside wildlife.