Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Ngorongoro is a crater, but it’s not a depression caused by a meteor impact—it was formed by a volcanic eruption, making it a caldera. The outer rim mountains reach up to 2,400 meters, and the crater itself sits at an elevation of around 1,800 meters. The interior is vast, where many animals roam freely. There’s also a lake inside the crater, where you can spot flamingos and pelicans. The animals you can observe in Ngorongoro are similar to those in the savannas of places like the Serengeti, but I was able to see a serval cat (though it was too far to get a good shot) and a black rhino (also too far, and my attempt to capture it failed) — both of which I couldn’t see in the Serengeti. Additionally, I got to see a hyena up close, the same kind that had terrified me during the night in the tent. Though I’ll never forgive that one from that night, I must admit they’re incredibly beautiful creatures.

However, the greatest attraction here is the view of the crater from the high outer rim. Along the outer rim near the entrance to Ngorongoro, there are several spots where you can look down at the crater below, and the sheer size of it is overwhelming. I can only imagine how incredible it would feel to fly over it.