NGORONGORO CONSERVATIONAL AREA, Tanzania - The golden setting sun silhouettes a tree at the Simba Campsite on the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, part of Tanzania's northern circuit of national parks and nature preserves. The Ngorongoro Crater, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a vast volcanic caldera in northern Tanzania. Created 2-3 million years ago, it measures about 20 kilometers in diameter and is home to diverse wildlife, including the "Big Five" game animals. The Ngorongoro Conservation Area, inhabited by the Maasai people, also contains significant arc
Image details
Contributor:
David Coleman | Have Camera Will Travel / Alamy Stock PhotoImage ID:
CWNPWTFile size:
46.1 MB (1.9 MB Compressed download)Releases:
Model - no | Property - noDo I need a release?Dimensions:
4930 x 3265 px | 41.7 x 27.6 cm | 16.4 x 10.9 inches | 300dpiDate taken:
15 August 2012Location:
Simba Campsite, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Arusha, TanzaniaMore information:
Ngorongoro Crater, located in Tanzania, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the largest intact volcanic caldera in the world. Formed approximately 2.5 million years ago by the collapse of a massive volcano, the crater measures around 12 miles in diameter and covers an area of 102 square miles. The Ngorongoro Crater is part of the larger Ngorongoro Conservation Area, which also encompasses the Olduvai Gorge, a significant archaeological site, and the Crater Highlands, home to Empakaai and Olmoti Craters. The crater's unique ecosystem, characterized by grasslands, forests, and an alkaline lake, supports an incredible diversity of wildlife, including the densest population of lions in Africa. It is one of the best locations in Tanzania for wildlife viewing and is home to nearly all of the African big five: lions, elephants, African buffalos, and the endangered black rhinoceros. The crater also hosts large herds of wildebeests and zebras, alongside other mammals and over 500 bird species, making it a popular destination for birdwatching enthusiasts. The Ngorongoro Conservation Area, established in 1959, allows for the coexistence of wildlife and the local Maasai people, who have lived in the region for centuries. The Maasai are permitted to graze their cattle on the crater's rim, but are not allowed to live or farm within the crater itself. The conservation efforts have helped maintain a delicate balance between the needs of the local communities and the preservation of the area's remarkable biodiversity.