The Ngorongoro Conservation Area covers a total area of 8,300 sq km.
It is an autonomous conservation area in which the environment and the various ecosystems are preserved. It is not considered a full-fledged National Park, even though it became part of the UNESCO heritage since 1978 and has been recognized as an International Biosphere Reserve since 1981.
In this area we find several typical ecosystems including rainforests and montane grasslands. On the border with
the Serengeti National Park we find vast grassy expanses full of life. Get ready to admire the famous
Ngorongoro Crater (with an area of 265 sq km), the
Crater Highlands with the
Olmoti volcano , the
Empakai Caldera and the
Ngorongoro Plains to the North West which are an integral part of the Serengeti ecosystem.
The Ngorongoro Crater is a real natural wonder, its majesty really leaves you breathless. The crater measures approximately 20 km in width, 600 meters in depth and an area of 300 sq km. Ngorongoro is the largest non-flooded and uninterrupted volcanic caldera in the world. It can accommodate up to 30,000 animals at a time. At the bottom of the crater we distinguish different habitats including grasslands, swamps, lush forests and spring lakes.
A stream,
the Munge River , constantly feeds the
Makat lake in the center of the crater. Thanks to its climate and the abundance of food, the Ngorongoro crater favors the permanence of animals throughout the year.
