Two to three million years ago, a giant volcano erupted and then collapsed in what is now northern Tanzania, leaving the vast Ngorongoro Crater in its wake. Today, it is 2,000 feet deep and covers 100 square miles—and it’s stunningly beautiful. For an amazing landscape and wildlife experience, you’ll definitely want to include the Ngorongoro Crater on your safari in Tanzania.

Animals At Home in the World’s Largest Caldera

What really draws people here are the more than 25,000 large mammals that call the crater home.

The crater’s rich volcanic soil supports plenty of grazing material, and the large lake at the crater’s center is a godsend for thirsty animals in the dry season — perfect conditions for a rich diversity of animal life to thrive. Among other mammals, the crater is home to approximately 3,000 gazelles …

… 7,000 wildebeest …

… 4,000 zebras …

… 65 lions …

… 300 elephants …

… and between 20 and 50 black rhinos (they keep the exact number under wraps to deter poachers).

Rhinos and the Big Five

The rhinos here are the big draw for Tanzanian safari-goers. Black rhinos are very rare — only about 6,500 remain in the wild — and they are right up there on the safari “Big 5” list. (The “Big 5″—lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants, and buffalo—was originally a colonial-era term for the most difficult and dangerous animals to hunt. Today, the Big 5 is still used as a list of must-see safari animals.) We were incredibly lucky to see 6 rhinos (albeit at a great distance) on the day we visited.

There are plenty of other mammals in the crater, including jackals, warthogs, hyenas …

… and hippos!

Bursting with Birds

The Ngorongoro Crater is also home to over 500 species of birds. I saw my first Kori bustard here …

… in addition to several stunning grey crowned cranes …

… thousands of flamingos …

… as well as weavers, eagles, and guineafowl.

Giraffes on the Slopes

You may hear a myth that animals can’t leave the Ngorongoro Crater because the walls are too steep. In truth, some animals — like zebras and wildebeest — do migrate seasonally. But one species you truly won’t find inside Ngorongoro is the giraffe, whose long legs can’t manage the steep descent down the crater’s walls.

Fortunately, if you’re a giraffe lover, you can see plenty of them as you drive along the crater’s outside slopes, still well within the protected bounds of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

Maasai Pastoralists

The crater’s rim is home to people as well as animals; many Maasai people live and raise their cattle here.

The Ngorongoro Crater is big on wow factor. After a long drive up, up, up, and a slightly shorter drive down, you suddenly see so many animals—and it’s hard not to be impressed. I would return in a heartbeat (though while I loved the green, I would hope for a sunnier day). It’s no wonder this UNESCO World Heritage Site is sometimes called the Eighth Wonder of the World.

Visiting other parks in Tanzania? Check out these posts on the teeming wildlife of the Serengeti and the elephant wonderland of Tarangire.

If you need tips on how to plan your own safari, read my essential guide.