Ngorongoro Crater is a breathtakingly beautiful natural wonder situated in Tanzania, East Africa. It is one of the most unique and fascinating places on earth, and one of Africa's most visited tourist destinations.
The crater is a result of a collapsed volcano, which formed a caldera that measures about 20 kilometers in diameter and is over 600 meters deep. The Ngorongoro Conservation Area, which encompasses the crater, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is home to an incredible array of wildlife and natural beauty.
The crater is often described as a mini-world within a world, and it's not hard to see why. The terrain is diverse and offers a mix of forest, savannah, and wetlands, which provide the perfect habitat for a variety of flora and fauna. It is home to an estimated 25,000 large animals, including elephants, lions, cheetahs, zebras, wildebeest, hyenas, and many more. Additionally, the crater is home to over 500 bird species, making it a haven for bird enthusiasts.
One of the unique features of the Ngorongoro Crater is that it is a natural enclosure, meaning that the animals inside are essentially trapped. As a result, the animals have adapted to the limited space and coexist in relative harmony. The crater's high walls also provide a natural barrier against human encroachment, which has helped to preserve the wildlife population and maintain the natural ecosystem.
Visiting the Ngorongoro Crater is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that should be on every nature lover's bucket list. There are several ways to explore the crater, including guided walking safaris, game drives, and hot air balloon rides. The best time to visit is during the dry season, which runs from June to October when the animals are more easily spotted around the crater's water sources.