Size: 260 sq km (172 sq miles).
Location: Northern Tanzania, 300 km (190 miles) Northwest of Arusha Town.

The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is located between the Serengeti and Lake Manyara within Tanzania's famed Northern Safari Circuit. It is home to the famous volcanic Ngorongoro Crater, which is the largest unbroken caldera in the world. The Ngorongoro crater (610 metres deep and 260 km squared) is a microcosm of Tanzania's safari scenery and big game viewing. It is usually visited on safaris to/from the Serengeti to Arusha. Scenic grandeur and stunning views are the hallmark of this wonder of the world. All the safari lodges are built high on the Ngorongoro Crater rim and afford amazing big game viewing over crater's edge.

Wildlife
There are 25,000 larger animals within the crater itself, mostly Zebra and wildebeest. However, this is undoubtedly the best place to see black rhino while on a Ngorongoro safari as well as prides of lion that include the magnificent black-maned males. There are lots of colourful flamingoes and a variety of other water birds around the soda lake on the crater floor. More than a 100 species of bird not found in the Serengeti have been found in the crater. Other game that can be viewed during a Ngorongoro Crater safari include leopard, cheetah, hyena, elephants, warthog, impala, buffalo, hartebeest, eland and lots of other members of the antelope family and smaller mammals of sorts.

How To Get There
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is located between the Serengeti and Lake Manyara. By road, charter or scheduled flight from Arusha, en route to Serengeti and Lake Manyara.

What To Do
Archeologists will be interested in Olduvai Gorge which is in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and where it is possible to see the famous discoveries of remains of early Man by Mary and Louis Leakey. However most of the activity is within the crater which is popular for bird watching, photography, walking safaris, and big game viewing from a vehicle (4 wheel drive). A Ngorongoro Crater safari is essential.

When To Go
Dry season (July-October) for large mammals; wet season (November-June) for bird watching, the waterfalls and canoeing.

Accommodation
There are a number of safari lodges and camps to stay at on the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater. Lodges: Ngorongoro Wildlife Lodge, Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge and Ngorongoro Serena Lodge. Camps: Most campers stay at Simba site.