The Ngorongoro Crater is an extraordinary natural phenomenon, teeming with wildlife and offering a glimpse into the past. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is perhaps most famous for its herds of elephants that gather at dusk to enjoy an evening drink from the crater’s many springs.
Ngorongoro Crater is the largest caldera in the world and the second largest in Africa. It was formed about 50,000 years ago by a supervolcano eruption that lasted for months and covered an area of 3,200 square miles (8,500 km2).
This incredible natural wonder is located in Tanzania, where you can find out more about it or even see it yourself!
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area covers over 8,000 square kilometers. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site and contains one of the largest unbroken calderas in the world.
The crater is so big that it has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its importance to Tanzania’s environment and culture.
The Fantastic Serengeti National Park lies to the west of the crater and Lake Manyara National Park lies to the north.
The Serengeti National Park lies to the west of the crater while Lake Manyara National Park lies to the north. In between, there is Masai Mara Game Reserve, which has some of Africa’s most spectacular open plains and also some amazing wildlife viewing opportunities.
Read Also: Africa’s most impressive wildlife, at Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
The Ngorongoro Crater itself is a unique geological feature that was formed over three million years ago when an ancient volcano erupted under what is now Tanzania’s lush and fertile central region. It has since been filled with water from rainfall as well as volcanic ash deposits from eruptions caused by earthquakes deep within its volcanic core. The crater lake itself covers an area of over 300 square kilometers (120 sq mi), making it one of Africa’s largest freshwater lakes!
The Ngorongoro Crater is home to 25,000 large mammals, mostly ungulates such as wildebeest and zebra. Hippos and crocodiles are found in its soda lake.
Ngorongoro Crater is famous for its huge population of lions. The crater itself was formed by an enormous volcanic explosion about 50 million years ago, but most people know it as home to the largest and most famous of all African animals: lions.
The Ngorongoro crater is a natural habitat because it contains many different types of plants that support animals like giraffes, zebras, and gazelles. It also has many different types of birds including ostriches that can fly long distances without stopping!
The crater also houses a number of other large predators including cheetah, leopard, hyena and caracal cats. Golden jackals are also commonly seen in the area.
The Ngorongoro crater is home to an endangered black rhino. The population of the animals has been in decline and they are considered an indicator species for the conservation of their habitat.
The crater was created by a volcanic eruption over 100,000 years ago, which devastated much of Tanzania’s eastern side and killed up to 40% of its wildlife population at the time.
There are few rodents found on the crater floor but weasels can sometimes be seen if you know where to look for them. Weasels have a good sense of smell and can track down small animals by scent, so it’s important not to leave anything behind.
Ngorongoro Crater is home to many species of animals and birds. The crater floor has a very unique ecosystem that is home to hundreds of different types of plants, birds, reptiles, and mammals. Although it may look like a barren wasteland, there are many interesting things to see in Ngorongoro Crater if you know where to look.