Ngorongoro was created millions of years ago when an ancient volcano erupted and then collapsed in on itself, the crater now sustains expansive grasslands on its floor dotted by a few acacia trees. The crater is 2,000 feet deep and its floor covers 100 square miles. Montane woodlands cover the highlands around the rim of the caldera. Unlike most volcanic craters on earth, the Ngorongoro Crater has not turned into a lake but is drained by streams to the north and south. In addition to the streams, numerous springs, both near the crater walls and across the crater floor, are important sources of water, especially during the dry season.

The crater creates a natural enclosure that is home to impressive varieties and concentrations of wildlife. In addition to the zebra, gazelle, and wildebeest that graze the plains, the region is home to Africa’s big five mammals: lion, leopard, buffalo, rhinoceros, and elephant. There are an estimated 25,000 animals within the crater. Other wildlife here includes serval cat, cheetah, jackal, Grant’s and Thompson’s gazelle, and bat-eared foxes, as well as approximately 500 species of bird including ostrich, kori bustard, and hildebrandt’s francolin .