The Ngorongoro crater is located in Tanzania on the African continent within the Rift Valley. This valley is famous for being considered the cradle of humanity. Indeed, it was inside that the first known specimens of the human race, Homo habilis, were discovered.
The Ngorongoro crater is the crater of a huge extinct volcano, born more than 2 million years ago.
This crater, now extinct, was formed following the collapse of a volcano on itself when its magma chamber was emptied during a volcanic eruption. The Ngorongoro is the largest intact and non-submerged caldera in the world with an area of 326 km2.
It is an idyllic place for animals. They can find water very easily as well as food. They are also protected from humans and their activities, as well as from drought or other climatic disasters.
The diversity of the animal world is incredible inside the crater. Nearly 400 species of birds are listed, as well as Lions, Hippos, Elephants, Cheetahs, Zebras, Leopards, Chacals, Hyenas, African Golden Cats… This site welcomes more than 600,000 visitors each year .
According to several studies, the Ngorongoro volcano was much larger than that of Kilimanjaro (alt 5895 m). But 1.8 million years ago, the Ngorongoro volcano collapsed in on itself due to an eruption.