Ngorongoro Conservation Area, spanning the volcanic highlands southeast of the Serengeti, is one of East Africa Sauvage’s most extraordinary destinations on the Northern Safari Circuit. Covering approximately 8,292 square kilometers (3,202 square miles), it’s built around the Ngorongoro Crater — the world’s largest intact volcanic caldera — along with Olduvai Gorge, Empakaai Crater, and the surrounding highland plains.

The crater floor itself covers about 260 square kilometers, ringed by walls rising some 600 meters (2,000 feet) above it. Within this natural amphitheater live an estimated 25,000 large mammals year-round, drawn by permanent water and rich volcanic soils. It’s home to one of the highest densities of lions anywhere in Africa, all of the Big Five including a slowly recovering population of black rhino, and dense herds of wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, and elephant.

The conservation area is also of profound archaeological importance: Olduvai Gorge has yielded hominid fossils and footprints dating back as far as 3.6 million years, making it one of the world’s most significant sites for understanding human evolution. Unlike a typical national park, Ngorongoro is a multiple land-use area, where wildlife conservation coexists with semi-nomadic Maasai pastoralists and their livestock — a balance reflected in its status as a UNESCO Mixed World Heritage Site.

Beyond the crater rim, the highlands hold further rewards: Empakaai Crater’s soda lake draws flamingos to its shores, while Olmoti Crater offers sweeping viewpoints for those willing to hike a little further off the beaten path. Often paired with the Serengeti and Lake Manyara on a northern circuit itinerary, it’s a journey East Africa Sauvage is proud to guide you through.