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- On a recent five-day safari in Tanzania, I visited the volcanic crater of Ngorongoro, a 100-square-mile basin called the "Eden of Africa" for its population of more than 25,000 large animals.
- While I was only able to visit the crater for five hours, it was a highlight of my safari trip, allowing me to get up close with zebras, wildebeest, and even a mature male lion. I also saw one of the rarest animals to see on safari: the endangered black rhino.
- Ngorongoro lived up to its nickname as Africa’s "eighth wonder of the world," providing a breathtaking experience commensurate with visiting other world wonders like the Great Pyramid of Giza.
The Ngorongoro Crater has many nicknames — Africa’s "eighth wonder of the world" and "Africa’s Eden," to name a few.
But even without these lofty nicknames, the crater is a stunning a sight. Formed 2.5 million years ago after an extinct volcano collapsed on itself, the caldera is largest of its kind in the world.
Today, the crater has become a fascinating, self-contained ecosystem full of wildlife. It is home to over 25,000 large animals, including close to 70 lions — the highest density of lions in the world — and many critically endangered black rhinos. Because the rhino is frequently targeted by poachers, the number of rhinos in the crater is kept a secret.
Visiting Ngorongoro is a highlight for most safari visitors. The inside of the crater is only about 100 square miles in area and 12 miles across, making it very easy to see all sorts of game.
Here’s what it was like to visit.
While the grasslands of the Serengeti may be Tanzania’s most iconic destination, the Ngorongoro Crater might be the country’s most stunning place.
Harrison Jacobs/Business Insider
The 100-square mile volcanic crater is the largest in the world and has been nicknamed Africa’s "eighth wonder of the world."
To get to the crater, my guide and I drove through mountain highlands of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, which surrounds the crater.
Harrison Jacobs/Business Insider
The Conservation Area is comprised of 3,200 square miles of highlands, lakes, plains, and forests.
The highlands are the perfect place to spot wild giraffes, which like to eat the many species of trees that populate the area.
Before heading into the crater, however, I had to get a view from above.
Harrison Jacobs/Business Insider
From the rim of the crater, I could see how the walls were covered with jungle while the center mimicked the short grasses of the Serengeti.
See the rest of the story at Business Insider
See Also:
- I stayed in 3 very different lodges during my 5-day safari. Here’s what each place was like, from glamping in the savannah to a farmhouse on a coffee plantation
- These are the 10 hottest destinations billionaires are flying to via private jet this summer
- I went on safari in the Serengeti and the most unforgettable sight of the whole trip had nothing to do with lions, cheetahs, or leopards
Source: Business Insider – hjacobs@businessinsider.com (Harrison Jacobs)