Ngorongoro Crateris a protected area and a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Ngorongoro District, 180 km (110 mi) west of Arusha City in Arusha Region, within the Crater Highlands geological area of northern Tanzania. The area is named after Ngorongoro Crater, a large volcanic caldera (large bowl-shaped volcanic depression more than one kilometre in diameter and rimmed by enfacing scarps) within the area. The conservation area of this crater is administered by the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority who is an arm of the Tanzanian government, and its borders follow the edge of the Ngorongoro District in Arusha Region.

The crater, which formed when a large volcano exploded and collapsed on itself two to three million years ago, is 610 metres (2,000 feet) deep and its floor covers grassland of 260 square kilometres (100 square miles). Estimates the height of the original volcano which ranges from 4,500 to 5,800 metres (14,800 to 19,000 feet) high. The crater ground floor is 1,800 meters (5,900 feet) above the sea level. The crater was noted by Seven Natural Wonders and mentioned as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa in Arusha city, Tanzania, in February 2013.

The local Masai people also bring their livestock to graze in the crater. Lake Magadi, a surface soda lake ringed by vanished volcanoes, is well-known as a locale for great flocks of pink flamingos.

Flying from Arusha. Many also prefer a “fly in” camp that is your guide and vehicle are provided by your camp, and not by a local guide from Arusha, you can fly into Lake Manyara through airstrip, and get picked up at the camp. This can be a good idea if your group has few people, flying is cheaper than driving in Arusha.