Ngorongoro Crater & Lake Manyara

The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is located in the Crater Highlands area of Tanzania and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The actual Ngorongoro Crater is a large volcanic caldera and lies within this area.

The crater area is reputedly home to the highest density of mammalian predators in Africa. Large animals that also reside in the crater include black rhinoceros, wildebeest, zebra, eland, and Grant’s and Thompson’s gazelles. On the crater rim live leopards, elephants, and buffalo, and hundreds of flamingos often flock to the rim of the large lake in the center of the crater.

Lake Manyara is a shallow lake in the Manyara Region, and holds the honor of being described by Ernest Hemingway as the “loveliest [lake]…in Africa.” It is home to a hugely diverse set of landscapes and wildlife.