Ngorongoro Crater

The Ngorongoro Crater, located in Tanzania, is part of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, which encompasses extensive highland plains, savanna woodlands, and forests. Established in 1959 as a multi-use area, it allows for the coexistence of wildlife and semi-nomadic Maasai pastoralists who engage in traditional livestock grazing.

 

This region features the remarkable Ngorongoro Crater, recognized as the largest caldera globally. The conservation area holds significant value for global biodiversity preservation due to the presence of endangered species, the high density of wildlife in the vicinity, and the seasonal migration of wildebeests, zebras, gazelles, and other creatures toward the northern plains. Furthermore, extensive archaeological studies have uncovered a wealth of evidence regarding human evolution and interactions with the environment, including early hominid footprints dating back 3.6 million years.

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Covering an area of 809,440 hectares, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area includes vast highland plains, savannas, savanna woodlands, and forests, stretching from the Serengeti National Park in the northwest to the eastern arm of the Great Rift Valley. Established in 1959 as a multi-use zone, it supports the coexistence of wildlife and semi-nomadic Maasai pastoralists who practice traditional livestock grazing.

 

In addition to the stunning Ngorongoro Crater, the region is home to Olduvai Gorge, a deep ravine measuring 14 kilometers in length. This area is of global significance for biodiversity conservation, boasting the presence of endangered species like the black rhino, a high density of wildlife in the Ngorongoro Crater and its surroundings year-round, and the yearly migration of wildebeests, zebras, Thompson’s and Grant’s gazelles, along with other ungulates into the northern plains.