Over half a million people visit the Ngorongoro Crater every year and a staggering majority of that number comprise of people traveling from outside Africa. The Ngorongoro Crater is often an integral part of any Tanzania safari. Many people planning a Zanzibar holiday also keep a day or two aside to explore the Ngorongoro Crater. What Is The Ngorongoro Crater It is the largest inactive and intact, unfilled volcanic caldera in the world. The crater was formed about two to three million years ago when a large volcano supposedly exploded and collapsed onto itself. The crater is more than 2000 feet deep (about 610 meters). The floor spans across 100 square miles or 260 square kilometers. The floor of the crater is elevated at about 5,900 feet above sea level, or 1,800 meters. It is estimated that the original volcano was as high as 14,800 to 19,000 feet or 4,500 to 5,800 meters. Part of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, the crater is a protected site. It is also classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Known for its unparallel beauty and the most unchanged wildlife sanctuary in the world, the crater is a popular tourist destination and has immense archeological significance. Along with Olduvai Gorge, the Ngorongoro Crater has been home to different hominid species for more than three million years. Ngorongoro Crater is within the Serengeti ecosystem which also witnesses the massive wildebeest migration. The crater falls on the route of the migrating animals. More than two million animals, including about a million and a half wildebeest, half a million zebras and two hundred thousand gazelles migrate from Serengeti to Maasai Mara. The topography of the Ngorongoro Crater is unique. The land, although is unused for any cultivation or any other purpose, happens to be multi-use. The amazing landscape of the crater along with its myriad wildlife makes it a popular stop in a Tanzania safari. What Would You Do At The Ngorongoro Crater The sight or the visual spectacle is a delight in itself. The landscape, the elevation, the topography and the various shades all make for an amazing natural wonder. In addition to soaking it all in, you would get to see the hook-lipped black rhinoceros when you take your Tanzania safari vehicles along the route. You would spot plains zebras, wildebeests and zebras in herds, female lions or lionesses and much more.