Ngorongoro Crater
The name "Ngorongoro" came from the Maasai tribe, which are the inhabitants of the region. The Ngorongoro is also known as the "crown jewel" of the Serengeti, whose spectacular scenery gazes down at a 2,000-foot precipice at the crater floor of the volcanic crater created over 3 million years ago. A crater is created when the land sinks after a volcanic eruption. Ngorongoro Crater has a special crater because of its highland characteristics at the crater rim at 10,000 ft and the floor at 5,400 ft. The Ngorongoro Crater is one of the seven Wonders of the World. This resulted in the spreading of volcanic ash all over the Serengeti Plain, which resulted in the formation of fertile soil rich in phosphorus minerals that yield short grasses on which the wildebeest feed because all cells of their body have phosphorus. Short grasses that grow on the southern side of the Serengeti Plain during the rainy season of calving enable young wildebeests to develop strong as they feed on the grasses to prepare for the time of migration.
The uniqueness of the Ngorongoro's environment is encapsulated in the Great Rift Valley’s walls forming the rim of the escarpment, making it difficult for animals to move easily inside its natural boundaries. Its distinctive 100-square-mile caldera’s environment is the habitat of different species of animals present in the entire environment of East Africa. The cooling breezes along its rim make the interior conditions in the crater perfect for cooling, hence attracting animals to get into the crater. The crater is home to 25,000 animals. The various species of animals found in the crater feed on Lake Magadi, which is found in the crater and created by another water source in the crater. There is a great opportunity to witness the endangered black rhinos feeding on the lake's water. Ngorongoro has 5 prides of lions in the crater, together with 3 prides along the rim. There are 7 hyena clans in the crater, 3 of which are night hunters. The hyenas contribute 80% in supplying lions with food. Ngorongoro Crater is also an excellent destination for photo safaris as the animals come close enough to the jeeps for the photographer to snap excellent close-up shots of the wild animals
