things simple – all the better to focus attention on the sublime views of the plains. Indoors, monochrome portraits lining the communal areas depict the most regularly sighted neighbors: zebra, wildebeest, buffalo, elephants, lions and leopards. Outdoors, the fire pit is the hub of the action as night falls – a cozy and convivial setting for stargazing, after-dinner drinks and gentle chatter.

Knockout views are among the highlights of the tented suites at Ngorongoro Crater Camp. This is safari in its purist form, with the chorus of birdlife as a morning alarm call and timeless views of Mount Makarot or the Serengeti plains from the private decks. Inside, all is light and airy with billowing white curtains and teak floorboards, plus the luxury of an en-suite bathroom and a king-size bed.

The brilliant kitchen team at Ngorongoro Crater Camp continually impress by creating flavor-packed international classics with a safari twist – filled flatbreads, hearty stews, aromatic tagines, local vegetable dishes and decadent desserts (crater coffee cheesecake, perhaps). If you’re on the go you can enjoy packed lunches out in the bush, or return to camp for a late lunch and drinks in the golden afternoon sunlight. A delicious three-course dinner rounds off each day.

Tanzania’s Ngorongoro Conservation Area spans more than 3,400 mi² of highland, savannah and forest, stretching from the plains of Serengeti National Park to the eastern prong of the Great Rift Valley. Its northern grasslands are the scene of the thundering herds of the annual Great Migration, as more than a million wildebeest, zebra, gazelles move south in search of greener pastures. Coexisting with the natural cycles and spectacles of the area – which was designated as multiple land use in 1959 – are seminomadic Maasai pastoralists, who graze their cattle on its highlands and plains.

This unique corner of Tanzania is also rich in archaeological finds – the footprints of our early human ancestors were discovered in Laetoli, near Olduvai Gorge. The fossilized tracks of one of the first upright-walking humans had been preserved in volcanic ash from a nearby eruption. Just as groundbreaking was the volcanic activity that created the greatest natural wonder of the conservation area: Ngorongoro Crater.

The world’s largest inactive, intact, unfilled caldera was formed about three million years ago when a volcano erupted so violently that it collapsed upon itself. It’s now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and its 160 mi² throb with life. Between 25,000 and 30,000 animals, including all of the Big Five, roam the crater floor, creating a self-contained ecosystem that is hugely significant for wildlife conservation. Set on edge the forested rim of the caldera, Ngorongoro Crater Camp is unrivalled as a base from which to explore it all.

Exploring the perfectly contained, wildlife-rich Ngorongoro Crater feels like stumbling upon some lost prehistoric world. Ngorongoro Crater Camp occupies an idyllic position near the edge of this, the largest inactive volcanic caldera on earth. Twice-daily game drives – or full-day excursions – offer the possibility of spotting elephants, hippos, buffaloes, lions, leopards, cheetahs, impalas, zebras, wild dogs, jackals and hyenas, plus a multitude of birdlife. A hike around the edges of the crater, to gaze down its 2,000ft sheer drop and watch the animals roaming below, is highly recommended too. Visiting the local Maasai community is a hugely enriching experience, when you learn about the unique culture of one of Tanzania's most iconic ethnic groups.

Home to endangered black rhinos and impressively tusked elephants; tree-dwelling leopards and one of the densest populations of lions in Africa, the Ngorongoro Crater is a sublime setting for spotting the most iconic creatures on the continent. The high drama of survival plays out here continuously: hyenas scavenging after a kill; lions climbing trees to avoid aggressive buffalo; warthogs retreating backward into burrows as a defense mechanism. The year-round supply of water and food supports a huge variety of animals including wildebeest, zebra, eland, hippo, elephant, jackals, cheetahs, and an endemic species of shrew.

AT A GLANCE

• 10 pared-back tented suites with raised private decks
• En-suite bathrooms with indoor shower
• The on the doorstep of the timeless sights of the Ngorongoro Crater with easy access to Ndutu Plains
• The area is home to a large assortment of animals including zebra, buffalo, warthog, wildebeest, hippo, crocodile, flamingo and elephants and an amazing population of predators - lions, rhino, hyenas, jackals, cheetahs and the elusive leopard
• Full day game drives in the crater (with picnic lunch or hot crater lunch)
• Morning and afternoon game drives in the crater and on the rim
• Wi-Fi
• All Inclusive: 3 meals daily, soft drinks, house wines, local brand spirits and beer, safari activities, laundry
• Electricity supplied by solar