It is the largest unbroken volcanic caldera in the world covering an area of 259 km2 and having walls over 600m high formed by geological faulting in the Eastern arm of the Great Rift Valley very many years ago, the withdrawal of molten lava beneath made the centre collapse creating the Ngorongoro crater.
The name Ngorongoro comes from Maasai word llkorongoro which was given to the age group of Maasai warriors.
It’s known that various hominid species have occupied the are for many years this is based on fossil evidence found at the Olduvai Gorge.

The Maasai live side by side with the animals as they graze their cattle on the highland slopes.
The crater is said to have the densest concentration of wildlife in Africa.
The crater is one of  the most likely place to see the endangered Black Rhino in Tanzania.It’s also home to over 20-30,000 animals such as Hippo,buffalo,elephant,cheetah,leopard,lions,wildebeests.
Lake Ndutu and Mosek both alkaline soda lakes are home to rich game populations.
Lake Magadi a soda lake is home to flocks of flamingoes.
The dry season starts in June through October, June and July are very cold. The rainy season starts from November through to May.

There is a variety of bird species such as flamingos, egrets, geese, secretary birds, ostriches, kori bustards.