Within the Great Rift Valley, a great rent in the earth's crust, lies the wonderful Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania - one of the natural world’s greatest wonders. This Lemala camp, perched on the crater rim is superbly located for quick and easy drives to the crater floor.

The Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania is actually an extinct volcano that collapsed in on itself around 25 million years ago thus forming a vast depression now filled with wildlife. The central bowl, the caldera, has sides roughly 1950 feet (600 metres) high and a flattish centre with a diameter of about 10 miles (16km).

When the water stocks are low elsewhere the animals within this Garden of Eden turn to the swamps for fresh water and food. Elephant feed on the giant sedges and Hippo wallow in the pools. The Fever Tree forests shelter Monkeys, Bushbuck and Waterbuck and the few Black Rhino that have taken refuge here. A soda lake, fed by the Munge River, attracts water birds like the Flamingo and is a favourite place for predators.

The conservation area has a number of other volcanoes including Oldonyo Lengai, which is still live. One of the most fascinating attractions in the area is the Olduvai Gorge, where an ancient river has carved away the rock to expose layer upon layer of volcanic soil.

How to get there

Lemala Ngorongoro Camp is reached by the Lemala Gate entry and exit road. Arusha is a 4 hour drive away. Guests can also fly to Manyara airstrip which is a 2.5 hour drive from the camp – transfers can be arranged.

By Road:

From Arusha - 4 hours From Manyara airstrip - 2.5 hours From Lemala Ndutu - 3.5 hours From Lemala Tarangire - 4.5 hours From Lemala Ewanjan Seronera Valley - 5 hours From Lemala Mara - 8.5 hours