NGORONGORO CRATER

The ngorongoro crater is a huge volcanic caldera, covering 100 square kilometers in nothren Tanzania. Formed approximately 2.5 million years ago when a giant volcanic exploded and collapsed in on itself, the ngorongoro crater is 2000ft (610m) deep. Endowed with an abundance of wildlife, the crater features almost every animal species spent in East Africa.

There are aproximately 30,000 animals, through certain animals (eg giraffe and impala) are not present due to difficulties negotiating the ctater rim cliffs and insufficient grazing opportunities.Approximately 2.5million years ago the ngorongoro crater was a huge volcanic mountain, rivalling Kilimanjaro in size. This changed when the Top of the mountain collapsed in on itself, creating the biggest volcanic caldera in the world. The pick is feeming with wildlife, with animals such as zebra, buffalo, hyenas, wildebeest and lions thriving in the area.

There are aproximately 42,000 maasai tribe members living withing the ngorongoro conservation Area. They live off the land, and move in accordance with the needs of their animals ( cattles, goats, sheeps and donkeys).

Within the ngorongoro conservation Area lies the Olduvai Gorge, where Dr. Leakey first discovered the remains of handy man (HomoHabilis) a sceleton showing the initial stage of human evolution. This find is believed to prove that humans originated in Africa. You can learn more about handy man at a museum at the gorge which now show cases both real and replica artefacts found on site.