The Ngorongoro Crater was formed when a massive volcano collapsed in on itself and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978. It is the largest intact volcanic caldera in the world, renowned for both its geological beauty and its dense populations of large mammals. The Crater’s enclosed structure has created a self-contained ecosystem, allowing a remarkable diversity of flora and fauna to thrive in a relatively small area throughout the year. Alongside its breathtaking scenery, this rich wildlife concentration is one of the area’s main attractions.

ANIMALS YOU MAY SEE:

A safari in Ngorongoro guarantees sightings of large concentrations of game. The mineral-rich Crater floor is largely flat and open, covered in nutritious grasses that attract vast herds of wildebeest and zebras. These plains also support buffalo, Thomson’s gazelles, and Grant’s gazelles. While breeding herds of elephants rarely enter the Crater, solitary old bulls can often be seen, including some of Africa’s largest tuskers. Notably absent are impalas and giraffes, likely due to the scarcity of woodland and browsing trees they prefer. The abundance of herbivores sustains some of the densest predator populations in Africa, making Ngorongoro a consistently exceptional safari destination.

The Crater is enchanting, like a scene out of a film or perhaps our closest vision of the Garden of Eden.

ROANE TRAVEL’S FAVORITE SIGHTINGS HERE 

About the areas you will visit:
Ngorongoro Crater

Serengeti National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of the world’s most famous wildlife destinations and among the oldest protected ecosystems. Covering around 14,750 square kilometers, it is home to nearly four million large mammals and over 500 bird species. The park is famed for the Great Migration, when more than 1.5 million wildebeest and 400,000 zebras move across the plains in search of fresh grazing. The landscape includes treeless central plains, acacia-dotted savannah, granite kopjes, and riverine forests in the north. Its name comes from the Maasai word “Siringet,” meaning “endless plains.” The Great Migration is a dynamic, year-round phenomenon, with different stages occurring across the park, offering unique wildlife experiences throughout the year.

ANIMALS YOU MAY SEE:

The Serengeti ecosystem also sustains large populations of predators and herbivores. More than 3,000 lions roam the park, while leopards have an estimated density of 5.41 individuals per 100 km² in the dry season. African bush elephants, once severely reduced by poaching, have rebounded to over 5,000 individuals, and buffalo numbers have recovered to around 28,500. The black rhinoceros remains critically endangered, with fewer than 50 individuals surviving, mostly in areas less affected by wildfires. 

The massive Kopje’s (rock formations) spread throughout the endless plains, are also a favorite napping spots for the resident cats.

ROANE TRAVEL’S FAVORITE SIGHTINGS HERE 

About the areas you will visit:
Serengeti National Park

The northern Serengeti is less visited than the southern plains, offering an unspoiled landscape. This region stretches from the Lobo Hills down toward Seronera and is characterized by rolling green hills and open savannahs. Many lodges in the northern Serengeti are situated within Wildlife Management Areas which permit controlled off-road game drives allowing guests more exclusive safari experiences in open vehicles, particularly in the morning and evening when predators are most active. The northern Serengeti is home to a diversity of wildlife, with exceptional opportunities for close and memorable encounters.

ANIMALS YOU MAY SEE:

This region is home to a significant portion of the Serengeti’s elephant population, with the Lobo area in particular offering some of the best elephant sightings in the park. The Lobo Hills are also renowned for hosting large lion prides. Other wildlife commonly seen here includes cheetahs, leopards, spotted hyenas, and bat-eared foxes. The serval, a small spotted cat, is often spotted darting across open grasslands just after sunrise. On night game drives, keep an eye out for smaller and rarer species, such as bush babies, which add a special element to the nocturnal safari experience.

Seeing a lion up close and hearing its roar while off-roading on a night drive safari is exhilarating.

ROANE TRAVEL’S FAVORITE SIGHTINGS HERE 

About the areas you will visit:
Northern Serengeti (Loliondo)