Olduvai Gorge

If you were offered a single safari holiday in your lifetime; one chance in which to experience Africa, the Ngorongoro Crater is where you would want to go. Nowhere else in Africa, does such a varied cast of animals gather to graze, live and die. The Crater was formed by the collapse of one of Africa's volcanic giants over two million years ago. This was a volcano so high that it is likely that it would have overshadowed Mount Kilimanjaro - if it had not blown up instead, covering the Serengeti in ash and collapsing to the crater floor.Ngorongoro Crater is now the world's largest intact volcanic caldera. On a game drive into the belly of the crater you will encounter some 30,000 animals over areas as diverse as swampland, open savannah, grassland, forest and lake; all of this within the steep rock walls that climb some 600m to the rim. A herd of 70 elephants haunt the forest of yellow fever trees; hippos inhabit the swamps; wildebeest and buffalo graze the grasslands in their thousands, and hundreds of flamingos live on the lake, much to the delight of some 400 scavenging hyenas. Even Africa's extremely rare black rhino has found refuge within the crater's walls. Ngorongoro also boasts the highest concentration of predators in Africa. One hundred black-maned lions, skittish cheetah and leopards stalk the crater floor, bellies full and grins wide as they pick and chose from thousands of potential victims. To add to this surreal environment of wild harmony, Maasai tribesman - easily visible in their traditional scarlet robes - can be spotted guiding their cattle down the steep crater walls. The mythical Maasai graze their cattle here, unshaken by the presence of so many predators. Accommodation on the Ngorongoro Crater rim is limited but, in most cases, spectacular, and will definitely enhance your experience. Our Ngorongoro Crater Safaris offer unique and exciting ways in which to experience the crater along with other East Africa highlights. Tapping into expert knowledge is your best way to maximise your Ngorongoro game-viewing experience. There are a number of safaris led by knowledgeable guides - all you have to do is choose which one suits your needs best. A couple of these include the East African Classic Safari, the Coast to Coast and the Essential Northern Circuit. If you're seeking an Africa safari experience of masses of grazers, excellent sightings of predators and the mystery of the Maasai, all within a unique setting, the Ngorongoro Crater will satisfy.