Three million years ago (more or less!), a volcano estimated to be up to 5,800 metres tall and within what is now Tanzania, Africa, blew its top and collapsed in on itself. Today, the remnants of massive eruption form the Ngorongoro Crater. Located 1,800 metres above sea-level, the crater floor covers an area of 260 square kilometres and sits over 600 metres below the surrounding crater walls. It stands as the world’s largest inactive, intact and unfilled caldera crater, and in 2013 was made one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa.
The crater sits within the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA), itself a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Directly abutting the Serengeti National Park, the NCA forms a part of the Great Migration trail, a circular route an estimated quarter-million zebra, 1.7 million wildebeest, almost half a million gazelle and hundreds of thousands of other African game follow annually. As such, the NCA – and Ngorongoro Crater – is home to a rich diversity of animal life (together with birds), and is a major tourist destination, attracting 500,000 visitors a year.
The Crater is also the inspiration for the latest iteration of LeLoo’s World, Critter Crater.
Embark on a breath-taking tour of a crater inspired by Tanzania’s iconic Ngorongoro Crater, where adventure unfolds in exhilarating ways. Whether you choose a rugged jeep tour or take to the skies in a silent glider, you will be met with a landscape brimming with untamed beauty. Or, take the zipline ride into the heart of the crater, where you can explore on foot. Many scenic vistas await at every turn, offering the perfect backdrop for capturing those cherished summer memories.
– LeLoo’s World: Critter Crater description
Obviously, trying to recreate an entire caldera in SL isn’t really feasible; however, working with just half a Full region, Leloo (LeLooUlf) has done a remarkable job in providing hilly, rugged terrain backed by tall peaks, complete with its own small-scale crater with an animal watering-hole covering part of the floor. In addition, the landscape extends beyond the crater, presenting elements that might be taken as the shores of one of Tanzania’s may lakes (Lake Manyara, perhaps, given its proximity to NCA?) and a little hint of plains land.
The Landing Point sits on the crater rim, close to the eastern end of the region, and immediately reveals this is a setting with a lot to do as well as see. There’s a zip line to carry visitors down into the crater, passing over the watering hole in the process (itself a nod to the lake within Ngorongoro Crater?). Or, for those who prefer, there is a microlight air-tour with a very appropriate name given its somewhat Heath Robinson look: the Rickety Cricket. Best enjoyed in Mouselook, it offers a nice eagle’s eye automated tour of the setting (you don’t fly it yourself), lasting 4 minutes.
If zipping and taking an aerial tour don’t appeal, it is also possible to circumnavigate the crater rim. Doing so offers a full view of the setting, together with steps down into the crater or out to the land beyond the crater’s walls. And, as an aside, those taking the walk should keep an eye out for tour jeeps, which also use a part of the crater rim, and also for the opportunity to take your photo with a couple of the locals!
The start of the jeep tour can be found in the lowlands west of the crater, alongside the local market. Like the microlight tour, this is automated, and will last some three minutes, and, again like the microlight, is suitable for individuals and couples / pair.
In terms of the wildlife within Critter Crater, this is – like it’s real-world inspiration – a rich variety to be found: elephants, lions, giraffe, leopards, hippos, gazelle, African buffalo, hyenas, zebra, crocodiles and more. There are even some interesting characters not generally native to Tanzania to be found in the form of tigers, stoats and sloths, all of whom offer a curious little twist to the setting. The birds and wildfowl are also diverse, with flamingos being the most numerous.
There are multiple places where visitors can take a seat and relax, both up high and down low. Those feeling darling and float among the animals at the main watering hole – even right up close to hippos, despite their nature. If this doesn’t appeal, there bathe can also be found in the pool close the waterfalls in the western part of the setting, whilst fishing can be found just of the western coast.
Speaking of the western end of the setting, there is a house located up on a high plateau there. The land is labelled as Katie’s Home, and I’m not sure if it is public or private, as there are indications it might be either (e.g. being on its own parcel whilst having sign boards in the grounds offering visitor teleports to the air and ground tours). There are no signs to suggest it is private, and the grounds are where a couple of the local tigers might be found. I’d therefore suggest that if you wander up to it in search of the tigers, keep out of the house, just in case!
I admit that I personally found the environment settings perhaps detracted from the beauty of Critter’s Crater (I opted for setting with more of a HDR lean when exploring / photographing), but that’s a minor personal preference. The flipside is there is no mistaking the attractiveness of the setting, or the fun to be had in visited and exploring.
SLurl Details
- LeLoo’s World, Critter Crater (Friends, rated Moderate)
Inara Pey: Living in a Modemworld 