NGORONGORO CRATER
The Biosphere Reserve of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area covers 8 300 square km (3 204 square miles) in Northern Tanzania. This reserve was specifically planned to accommodate both the traditional Maasai communities and tourists. The original volcano which may have been higher than Kilimanjaro, collapsed in on itself and now forms a perfect basin. The caldera, measuring 18km (11miles) in diameter, lies 500m (1640 feet) below the rim, which towers above it at about 2 200meters (7 217 feet) above sea level.
LAKE MAGADI
Witness thousands of pink flamingos preening and reflecting in the still waters – a fantastic sight. A blue-green algae flourishes in the alkaline waters and is the sole source of food for the thousands of flamingos that can be found here. The flamingos travel in and out of the crater at night, and you may hear them honking like geese as they fly overhead. Many different animals can be found along the lakeshore including rhino, eland and lion. The lakeshore is also a good place to spot golden jackals which regularly hunt the flamingos.
CENTRAL PLAINS
The central plain is an ideal game viewing area. Cheetahs can occasionally be seen but often fall prey to lions and hyenas, which the nervous and fragile cheetah is no match for. You’ll probably see at least one pride of bloated lions lying on their backs, paws in the air, stuffed and totally damaging their noble image as the King of the Beasts.
ELERAI FOREST
The magical Elerai Forest is a special refuge for many different species of animals. Look for sly leopards perched high in the tree boughs, hiding in the leaves and dappled light. Also, watch for massive bull elephants ambling through shady thickets. Elerai is a Maasai word referring to the tall yellow barked acacias. These beautiful trees are old, gnarled by years of growing back the bark stripped off by elephants. The forest is also a special bird habitat, providing food and nesting sites for hoopoes, cuckoos and weavers.
NGOITOKITOK SPRINGS
Stretch your safari legs and listen to the grunts of the local hippos at this scenic spot. Ngoitokitok is the name for the springs that bubble forth is such abundance that a small lake has formed before spreading into the nearby Gorigor Swamp. A small rocky outcrop with a single fig tree adorns the lake edge and offers a wonderful photographic backdrop. The grassy strip around the lake is a popular resting area and a lovely spot for a bush picnic, but beware of the large brown hawks that swoop down to snatch unattended food.
GORIGOR SWAMP
Gorigor Swamp is a refuge for elephants and hippos, as well as a profusion of water birds. The swamp is a vast area that is fed by Ngoitokitok Springs and runoff from the crater walls. The area is a regular haunt for serval cats and also for lions and hyenas which use the thick cover to ambush other animals when they come to drink. The area to the northwest of the swamp is favoured by the crater’s black rhino population, and it is a particularly good location to get close-up photographs of this critically endangered species.
MUNGE STREAM
This scenic and meandering stream provides water and forage for a host of animals. The Munge stream cuts through the crater wall and wanders across the floor of the crater before emptying into Lake Magadi. Leopards are very elusive, but the best place to see them is in the trees that line the stream. Further upstream where the stream flows through the Rumbe Hills, there are large herds of buffalo and flocks of crowned cranes. Beautiful fig trees mark the border of the stream offering scenic backdrops for photography.
Tripadvisor Reviews
The entire experience was great! Within our budget, well-planned, and most importantly, really fun and interesting. Ann and Abu were both very kind and helpful. We saw many animals of... Read more 
18 Apr 2023