Ngorongoro Crater

The Ngorongoro Crater is the world's largest intact volcanic caldera, a self-contained ecosystem roughly 20km across and 600 meters deep, holding one of the densest concentrations of wildlife anywhere in Africa. Because the crater walls form a natural barrier, most resident animals stay within it year-round rather than migrating.

It is one of the most reliable places in Tanzania to see all of the Big Five in a single day, including the eastern black rhino, now rare across most of the continent. The crater floor also holds Lake Magadi, a soda lake that regularly attracts large flocks of flamingos.

Best time to visit: the crater is a year-round destination since its wildlife does not migrate — the main consideration is simply avoiding the heaviest rains in April and May, when the crater floor can turn muddy.