General: The Ngorongoro Conservation area  lies between three lakes within the Rift valley: Lake Natron in the north, Lake Eyasi in the southeast and Lake Manyara to the east. They are all famous for water birds, especially lesser flamingos. The largest lake within the Ngorongoro Crater is Lake Magadi or Makat, as Maasai called it with the meaning of salt. Due to deposition of volcanic ash, the lake became alkaline.

There is only one main stream, Munge, which feeds the lake. When water is relatively fresh, especially during the rain season, it is visited by more birds. The lake is not that deep, it is only 3 meters, and during dry season it drop dramatically. What make this lake hotspot is the number of water birds, especially lesser flamingo, who feed here and rest in Lake Natron. The lake shore is a stalking ground for predators especially lions, hyena and golden jackals.

The Caldera on the Empakai Crater (in the Ngorongoro Highlands), nearly half of its floor  is covered by a lake