The Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area is the home of over 30.000 animals, protected by the steep walls of the crater.
The crater has a spectacular concentration of wildlife with herds of buffalos, zebras, lions and wildebeest in the open grasslands, flamingos and hippos around and inside the lakes and elephants in the forest zone. One of the greatest experiences is to spot one of the rare black rhinos.
From the crater rim, around 600 m above the crater floor you will have a fantastic view over the complete crater with a shallow soda lake in its centre.
Here at the crater rim the walking safari starts through the nice landscape up to the Oldonyo Lengai as an unforgettable experience in Tanzania.
The Ngorongoro Crater Highland
Your trekking in the Crater highlands area can be done for several days, and we will be restricted. The Crater highlands is a range of extinct volcanoes that rise steeply from the side of the Great Rift Valley in the Northern Tanzania. The crater Highland ranger is roundly oval in shape measuring about 80 km by 40 km and is pinched at one end.
The range rises steeply from the surrounding plains at about 1.500 metres to heights of between 2.500 metres and 3.500 meters. Highland area is volcanic in origin, although the different peaks were created over many millions of years by series of eruptions connected with the formation of three Great Rift Valley. The older volcanoes have been eroded and most have collapsed to form crater (more correctly known as calderas). At the southern end of the Crater highlands are the oldest volcanoes, Oldeani and Lemagrut, with both summits at round 3.050 metres.
To the north of Ngorongoro crater is the main part of the highlands, where the trekking can be done. Only a few km away, the mountain of Olmoti rises to 100 metres on its western side, with a flat-stopped (plateau); which can early be seen from the Ngorongoro. This mountain also has a small crater.
To the east of Olmoti is Loolmasin, the highest peak on the range, at 3.645 meters, with its eastern side dropping steeply down to the plains near Engaruka. North of these 2 peaks is Empakaai (Embagai), with steep circular crates, half-filled by a lake. In between the peaks of Olmoti, Loolmaalasin and Empakaai, the ground deeps to from large Embulmbul Depression.
At the northern end of the range is Kerimasi, one of the more recent volcanoes, rising up to 2.300 meters. Beyond this lies the lasted volcano of the Crater Highlands to be formed and still active. The last big eruption was in the mid-1960's and the top of the mountain today you can see hot steam vents and growing ash -cones, it's mountain Ol Doinyo Lengai with both summit at around 2.960 metres.