Ngorongoro Crater

Ngorongoro Crater today makes you contemplate what all of Africa was like 100 years ago.

The wildlife viewing opportunities in the Crater were simply amazing. It was the only park where we viewed Black Rhino's as well as old, bull elephants with 100-lb tusks. We also saw many lions, groups of Cape Buffalo, Spotted Hyenas, and a multitude of antelopes and wildebeest, both in terms of numbers and species. We saw hippos up close in the ponds, many wart hogs, Grant's and Thompson's gazelles, and Masai calmly tending cattle and goats within a stone's throw of lions and other wildlife. The Crater is beautiful in and of itself - the rim surrounding the crater is fabulous! Perhaps one of the best-kept secrets of the Crater is the wonderful birding there. We viewed species of birds in the Crater that we did not see elsewhere, and many were so close that a big, wallet-killing, shoulder-crunching telephoto lens was unnecessary. Raptors were common, and close! What a wonderful place!

One of the World's Special places

Ngorongoro is unique. As the world's largest unbroken caldera it is a spectacular geological formation but it is a great haven for wildlife and gives the opportunity to see game at close quarters, with lots of lions and a good chance of seeing the elusive black rhino. The scenery is superb and the crater rim offers a great background for your photographs. You can only enter the crater after sunrise and have to leave by a different route to that you entered. It's steep going down so you have to be in a 4x4 . Lodges are nearby some at the crater rim have a great view.

Ngorongoro Crater is a microcosm of African Wildlife in all its beauty and wonder.

I have visited Ngorongoro Crater twice in my life - thirty years ago in 1985 and then again in 2014. It was beyond my expectations both times, although this past year I took a big long lens and had the time of my life photographing all the magnificent wildlife. It was beyond spectacular with lions stalking zebra, cheetah at the rim, a rhino in the distance, Elephants blocking our path. Our guides - Cheeseman Ecological Safari could not have been more accommodating. I came home with thousands of photographs and self published a book entitled "Tanzania". I would go back to Ngorongoro Crater in a minute.

My safari in Tanzania was awesome, we had the big five in three days and saw incredible wildlife

The Ngorongoro crater is truly one of the world wonders. The year round water supply means there is huge density of wildlife in the crater all year round. Most wildlife is used to the cars and tourists and it is possible to see most images up close. For enthousiast photographers it means that you can have a once in a lifetime experience. Lots of opportunities for photographing wildlife up close, but also with the typical surrounding landscape of the crater rim. Due to the fact that it is a very well known and popular destination, I would advise to go into the crater as early as possible to avoid the crowds. That is the only downside of this wonderful destination, it can be very crowded later in the morning and midday, but early mornings and late afternoons are wonderful. And the view from the crater rim on the crater floor is a once in a lifetime experience, especially with sundown and the enjoy of a sundowner.

Best Wildlife Worldwide like Serengeti

Since 1978 I have been at least 10 times to Ngorongoro Crater because I love the place. Always traveling on our own. Weather can be tricky depending on which time of year, but remember Ngorongoro is on high elevation and mornings can be really cold. Lots of hotels but no budgets only more expensive ones today however campsites are available. Road is now fine from Arusha but inside the Crater it can be bad. Scenery is breathtaking from the rim.

Amazing scenery!

Just driving around the rim of the crater was amazing. Once down in the actual crater we saw a lot of animals ranging from rhinos and lions to monkeys and birds. The Ngorongoro national park is definitely a place wort to visit!

Our safari to Africa which include the Ngorongoro Crater is the most exciting adventure of my life

The crater was so amazing in that it was different from most of the other places we visited. We only had our one day tour and wish that it could have been longer. There were so many different things to see, animals everywhere and so little in the way of cover for them. Would go back in a heart beat..

Ngorongoro Crater is a must visit; it a wonder and a marvel to behold. Here we photograph the only young lion cubs we saw. We also saw Serval and Caracal cats here too.

Ngorongoro crater is magical! it's known as Noah's arc as it have a collection of species that live balanced in that ecossystem. There I saw lions with black mane and black rhinos, that is an endangered specie. Although I haven't seen, a friend of mine who was in another vehicule saw two leopards by the road when they were driving inbound.

Together with the Serengeti park Ngorongoro is a must see for photographers and safari travelers

My last trip was in March 2015, and it was the best. Although it was dry and dusty, the wildlife was plentiful and more variety. The lodge was wonderful and the safari vehicles with the guides and drivers were always helpful.

Ngorongoro crater is truly one of the gems of Africa. Together with the Serengeti National park It is a must see for photographers and safari travelers. It is a large volcanic caldera created by a super volcanic explosion 2.5 million years ago. The original volcano is estimated to have been about 5000 metres (19,000 feet) high. After the explosion it collapsed on itself and the floor of the crater now is 610 metres (2,000 feet) deep. Its floor area is massive covering 260 square kilometres (100 square miles). The crater floor is mostly open grassland with two small wooded areas dominated by Acacia trees. The area became a Unesco world Heritage site in 1979.

The main source of water is rain in the rainy season and numerous springs that feed a lake. Because of the variety of animals present, the Ngorongoro Crater is a well known tourist attraction. It is home to a healthy resident population of most species of wildlife. particularly strong cheetah and lion populations. I photographed elephants, hartebeest, hyenas, wildebeest and zebra. Cape Buffalo, eland and Thomson’s gazelle. The buffalo population has increased greatly as well as zebras, waterbucks, black rhinoceros, jackals, hippopotamus, Serval cats. The crater has many species of birds such as flamingoes, eagles, owls, weaver birds, cormorants, ibis and other water birds.

I was comfortable in safari vehicles with elevated roofs to allow photography. Accommodation in the crater is widely available on the rim of the crater. Lodges, hotels and tented camps with private facilities dot the rim. They are clean, comfortable; a good service and Western style food is usually provided. The staff, drivers and guides are friendly and always willing to please.