Unique accommodation with
wonderful views

Ngorongoro Crater

To stand on the edge of the Ngorongoro Crater is to stand on the edge of a lost world, Africa's Garden of Eden.

The crater is the largest unbroken volcanic caldera in the world, measuring 19km across and covering an area of 260km² , and was formed 2 million years ago when the Ngorongoro volcano exploded and collapsed in on itself. It is thought by many geologists that the volcano was actually higher than Kilimanjaro prior to its eruption.

This unique geology has led to the crater being separated from the surrounding plains by its 600m high crater walls forming a natural enclosure that is a haven for wildlife and is home to over 30,000 animals.

The wide range of habitats here includes forests, grasslands, fresh springs and a sparkling soda lake in the centre. As a result, almost every variety of wildlife in East Africa can be found here including lion, leopard, cheetah, elephant, rhino, hyena, buffalo, zebra, wildebeest and gazelle. As well as this, the crater is rich in birdlife including the many thousands of lesser and greater flamingo in the soda lake.

A unique and fascinating feature of the crater is that the local Maasai people have grazing rights here and as a result it is not unusual to see the Maasai grazing their cattle on the crater floor amongst wildebeest and buffalo and with lions just a few hundred metres away.

One of the most challenging yet rewarding times to visit the crater is after the heavy rains. Access is difficult but there are few tourists, the wildlife tends to concentrated away from the floods on the higher ground and the light is beautiful.

t: 01625 440777 e: info@kenya-indepth.co.uk

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