Among Tanzania's natural wonders, the majestic Serengeti is impressive, but the Ngorongoro Crater is undoubtedly the most awe-inspiring. No one is prepared for the magnitude of this extinct volcano until it is before their eyes. After an ascent along a winding road surrounded by lush cloud forest, the immense caldera suddenly appears. At 20 kilometres in diameter and with sheer walls up to 600 metres high, it is the largest intact caldera in the world and one of the eight natural wonders of the planet.
This "African Garden of Eden" is home to an impressive diversity of habitats - plains, lakes, rivers and forests - and is home to some 25,000 wild animals. Unlike the Serengeti, these animals are not migratory, but permanent residents. It is the ultimate animal paradise and the purest representation of Africa.
Access to the crater is limited to a maximum of six hours, so it is advisable to get up early to make the most of your visit. There are numerous overnight lodges in the surrounding area. The Ngorongoro Conservation Area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979, includes other natural treasures such as the Empakaai Crater with its deep lake and the still-active Oldonyo Lengai volcano. In addition, the nearby Olduvai Gorge is considered the cradle of humanity, where the remains of Homo habilis were found. A small museum displays the main finds from the area.
You can drive around the crater, but always with a local guide, who knows every nook and cranny and where the elephants, black rhinos, lions and flamingos are to be found in Lake Magadi. Ngorongoro has the highest density of four of the big five on the planet (elephants, buffalo, lions and rhinos). Its biodiversity is astounding, although with one notable exception: there are no giraffes, as they do not find the tall acacia trees on which they feed in the crater.
Leaving this ancient volcano, the feeling of having experienced a great adventure is unavoidable. All visitors pass the memorial of legendary naturalists Michael and Bernhard Grzimek before stopping at the Ngorongoro Crater Viewpoint, one of the most beautiful viewpoints in the world, for a last view of this natural wonder.
Source: elmundo.com - Marta Glez. Hontoria 25/04/2025