Visit Africa

An ancient hole in northern Tanzania, Ngorongoro Crater is one of Africa's best wildlife-viewing spots. How come? The crater, 12 miles in diameter and 2,000 feet deep, acts like a natural cage; the crater's depth makes for a difficult escape for some animals, but most have no need to leave, finding plenty of resources inside. For the traveler, it means not only awesome wildlife viewing, but incredible views from accommodations on the crater's rim. Descend to the crater floor in a four-wheel drive; and once there just cruise around slowly and take in the scene — on any given day you'll likely see lion, rhino, elephant, buffalo, wildebeest, Thomson's gazelle, zebra, and reedbuck. The small soda lake inside the crater is also the seasonal home of thousands of flamingos. As with the Serengeti, safaris can be arranged in Arusha. Allow three days to get the most out of this fascinating destination.

Greater crater: Look deep into Ngorongoro