Nothing quite prepares you for the descent. The crater floor sits over six hundred metres below the rim, a vast natural amphitheatre packed with wildlife that rarely needs to leave. Lion prides doze in open grassland, black rhino graze within sight of the road, and flamingos gather in their thousands on the soda lake at its centre.

Because the crater holds water and grazing all year round, the game viewing here barely changes with the seasons, which makes it one of the most reliable places in Tanzania to build a safari around. Most guests spend a single, unforgettable day inside, though we’re always happy to build in more time for those who fall for it as hard as we did.