The “Natural Amphitheater

A Day in the Garden of Eden: What to Expect Inside the Ngorongoro Crater

Imagine a volcanic caldera so perfectly enclosed that it has created its own self-sustaining ecosystem. Welcome to the Ngorongoro Crater—the densest concentration of large mammals on earth.

Body: Descending 600 meters down the steep walls of the Ngorongoro Crater feels like entering a lost world. Because the walls are so high, many animals never leave, creating a “natural amphitheater” where predator and prey are in constant view of one another.

For many Viaggio guests, the highlight of the Crater is the chance to see the Critically Endangered Black Rhino. Because the area is compact, your chances of ticking off the “Big Five” in a single morning are higher here than anywhere else in Africa. You’ll see lions lounging by the roadside, hippos honking in the Lerai Forest swamps, and thousands of flamingos turning Lake Magadi pink. It is, quite simply, the most efficient wildlife viewing experience on the planet.