There are no words to describe the Ngorongoro Crater’s stunning magnificence. You will only appreciate the genuine make up of its nature as we stand at the viewpoint of the crater rim and gaze into the crater. If you’re a curious observer, you will notice clouds hovering about the rim and a cool mountain breeze in the air. With an estimated 30,000 animals residing here, the crater floor is a real nirvana and home to the Big 5, elephants, warthogs, gnu (wildebeest), zebras, Thomson’s and Grant’s gazelles, and has the densest population of lions in the world. On the crater floor, cheetahs are frequently spotted, although leopard sightings are very rare.

One of the most fulfilling events of your life will likely be this trip down to the crater. The caldera is thought to have formed about 2.5 million years ago from a large active volcano whose cone collapsed inward after a major eruption, leaving the present vast, unbroken caldera as its chief remnant. Due to limited forage for huge antelope herds, it may come as a surprise that there are no giraffes, topis, or impala in the crater. Wildebeest, zebra, and caparisoned buffalo are the typical prey mammals. A hunt can be readily observed and pursued over the open plains.

After a great day in the crater, we leave the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and drive back to either Arusha or Moshi in the late afternoon to arrive in the evening.