The world famous Ngorongoro Crater is situated in this protected area. It has a diameter of about 19.2 km. The rim of the crater is about 2,300 meters high, the floor of the crater is about 610 m lower. Most of the crater rim is wooded. Ngorongoro Crater is the second biggest caldera in the world and offers protection to some 25,000 animals. Prof. Grzimek once wrote: "There is nothing with which to compare.

It is one of the wonders of the world...". After you've explored the crater, for the first time, you can only agree with that. On the floor are Lake Magadi and the Lerai Forest (yellow fever acacia). Most of the crater's floor is covered with grassland. Although there is some migratory movement in and out of the crater, most animals remain in the crater since it provides ample grazing and water supply all year round.

In the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, on the way to the Serengeti, lies the Olduwai or Oldupai Gorge where, in 1959, the "Zinjanthropus Boisei" skull was discovered.
Many extinct vulcanoes like, Oldeani, Lemagrut, Olmoti and Embakai are to be found in the Conservation Area.