Ngorongoro Crater

Approximately 2.5 million years ago, Mount Kilimanjaro had a volcanic rival. What is now the biggest volcanic caldera in the world, was once a volcanic mountain. There are now roughly 30,000 animals in this area with species such as zebra, buffalo, wildebeest, hyenas and lions in abundance.

Alongside the wildlife, many Masaai families call this place home. Approximately 42,000 Masaai tribes people live here, farming the land and herding cattle, making this the only park where man and beast co-exist in harmony.

This UNESCO world heritage site is not only a beautiful example of Tanzanian landscape, it’s a historical site. The park is home to Olduvai Gorge, where Dr Leaky first discovered human remains so ancient that they proved that the human species originated in Africa.

Size: 8,300 sq km

Highlights:

Olduvai Gorge – also known as ‘the cradle of mankind’, this is a fascinating site! Here you can see how the earth changed with the passing of time and how that affected the evolution of man.

The Big Five – the dense wildlife within the crater includes all of the big five. Although it is not a sure thing to witness them all in one day, you will no doubt tick a few of them off your list!

Species: black rhinoceros, wildebeests, zebras, eland, Grant’s and Thomson’s gazelles, lions, leopards,  elephants, mountain reedbuck, buffaloes, spotted hyenas, jackals, wild dogs, cheetahs and over 500 species of bird which include ostrich, white pelican, and flamingo.