The crater in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area is the world’s largest unbroken, unflooded volcanic caldera.
The Crater, which formed when a giant volcano exploded and collapsed on itself some two to three million years ago,
is 610m deep and the floor is 260km2 (102 square miles).
Estimates of the height of the original volcano range from fifteen to nineteen thousand feet high.
A population of approximately 25,000 large animals
along with the highest density of mammalian predators in Africa, lives in the crater.
Olduvai Gorge, situated in the plains area, is considered the seat of humanity
after the discovery of the earliest known specimens of modern humans.
Hominid species have occupied the area for 3 million years.
The Olduvai Gorge is a steep-sided ravine and is about thirty miles long.
It is one of the most important prehistoric sites in the world and research there
has been instrumental in furthering understanding of early human evolution.
Excavation work there was pioneered by Mary and Louis Leakey in the 1930s and is continued today by their family.

Flamingoes in a salt lake in the crater.
Grey crowned cranes
A sleeping rhinoceros and 2 grey crowned cranes
Wildebeest are the most populous animal in the crater.
Hippos seem docile in the water but are dangerous on
Egrets are one of numerous birds that coexist with large
An elephant against the backdrop of the crater's rim. The crater
Kori Bustard birds
Birds walking along crater.
Sleeping rhinoceros
Flamingoes in a salt lake in the crater.
Ostriches are one of numerous birds that coexist peacefully with
Ostriches are one of numerous birds that coexist peacefully with
A zebra and flamingoes against the backdrop of the crater's
Zebras against the backdrop of the crater's rim. The crater formed
Maasai man selling souvenirs to tourists.
Maasai herdsman
Maasai traditional village
The buffalo makes his escape with only some scratches on
In the morning an elephant came into camp seeking water
In the morning an elephant came into camp seeking water
One of the campsites in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Large animals
The roads into and out of the crater are very
Deformed tree trunk.
After the excitement the lions settled down for a nap.
Another reason for the attack may well have been as
The lions give up their pursuit. One of the resaons
Guide at the site of the Zinjanthropus skull discovery in
The lead lion has let go and the lions falter
The lead lioness is unable to control the buffalo as
The lead lioness tries to get a hold of the
The buffalo struggles to shake off the attack; only one
The lead lion approaches from behind while the others corner
The next 10 photos are a sequence of a lion
Kori Bustard birds
Wildebeest stampeeding by the thousands
The Gorge from the top rim.
Sign - Take a journey through 3.6 million years of
The Ngorongoro area originally was part of the Serengeti National
Maasai people
Maasai territory
Hyena
Hyena
Wildebeest stampeeding by the thousands
Some Masai herders live in the gorge.
Sign - NOUTU Safari Lodge
Cheetahs are the fastest land animal, reaching speeds between 112
Cheetahs are the fastest land animal, reaching speeds between 112
The crater formed when a giant volcano exploded and collapsed
The floor of the crater is 260km2 (102 square miles).
Every safari driver must fill out entry papers and pay
Entry reception and information office at the Ngorongoro Crater.
One of the entrances to the crater in the Ngorongoro
Museum display at the site of
Leakey-followers at the site of the
Site of the Zinjanthropus skull
Site of the Zinjanthropus skull
The actual skull is in the
The actual skull is in the
Museum display at the site of
A photo of the 3 million
Museum display at the site of
Ngorongoro Crater Map
Museum display at the site of
Museum display at the site of the Zinjanthropus skull discovery
Louis Leakey in the 1930's in Tanzania.
The Olduvai Museum displays the nearby famous 3.6 million year
Mary Leakey in the gorge in 1996.
Mary and Louis Leakey in the gorge in 1930s.
The Leakeys at the gorge in the 1930s

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