Ngorongoro Conservation Area in Tanzania
Ngorongoro Conservation Area in Tanzania was established in 1959 and it is a protected area located in Ngorongoro district. 180 km west of Arusha city in Arusha region within the geological area of Northeastern Tanzania.
The area is named after Ngorongoro crater that is a large volcanic caldera within the area. The crater is 20 km wide and 2,000 feet deep.
It is a UNESCO World Heritage site because of its unique natural and cultural importance. Ngorongoro conservation area is one of the common and the most visited places in Tanzania.
It is a home to the big five (lions, elephants, Rhinos, Buffaloes and leopards), huge herds of wildebeest and Zebras.
The area covers vast expanses of craters, gorges, forests, lakes, rivers, streams, woodlands and savanna grasslands.
Ngorongoro conservation area is referred to “the garden of Eden.” because it is the true paradise of wilderness having vast animals in the place.
It is one of the amazing places good for viewing wildlife in Africa. About 24,000 large mammals live in the Ngorongoro crater.
They include waterbucks, African leopards, black rhinos, buffaloes, cheetahs, and East African wild dogs, gazelles, Topi, grant’s gazelles, wildebeest and lions among others.
Things to expect
Ngorongoro conservation area is an amazing place worth visiting. Expect to have one of the best moments in Ngorongoro crater enjoying the crater experience and the view of the large numbers of cheetahs, lions and Zebras.
Visit Olduvai Gorge one of the archaeological sites in the area. Travel around December to witness the great wildebeest migration.
Where over 1.5wildebeest, 450,000 zebras and 265,000 gazelle move through the southern part of Ngorongoro Conservation Area in Tanzania in search for water and grass. Around June, the same number move back to the North.
Activities that one can enjoy while at Ngorongoro Conservation Area in Tanzania
Ngorongoro conservation area in Tanzania is the place where one can’t have enough of their stay. It is an overwhelming place worth visiting.
Game Drives
You can go on safari tours on a morning game drive or afternoon drive in order to see a variety of animals, including the Big Five (lions, elephants, buffaloes, leopards, and rhinos) in their natural habitat.
The area has over 26,000 big mammals and about 500 species of bird to spot during the game drive.
By 4:30pm, all tour vans must be out of the crater. You can never have enough of the place, you need at least 3 days to enjoy the place very well.
Bird Watching
With over 500 species of birds, Ngorongoro Conservation Area in Tanzania is a paradise for bird watchers. Some of the birds include; flamingos, crowned Crane and the Kori bustard.
Within the crater rim, one is able to observe, augur buzzard, golden winged sunbirds, African cytrill sights and white-eyed slaty flycatcher.
Augur buzzard in a flight in Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Community visit
Visit the Maasai villages to learn about their culture and traditions. You can see their traditional dances, crafts, and even buy handmade souvenirs.
The Maasai graze their animals around the crater or bring them for water during the dry months. It is an amazing experience seeing this tribe and engaging with them.
Visiting the Tanzania’s last Bushmen who live in the remote areas of the park since the arrival of the Maasai in the place made them to relocate to the remote places.
Less than 2,000 of the Bushmen still live in the place. Visiting them as you learn more about their lifestyle would be one of the most interesting experience.
Walking Safaris
Take guided walking tours to explore the area on foot. It is a great way to get up close to nature and see the smaller creatures and plants.
Visit the Empakaai crater
Empakaai crater is the smallest sibling of the Ngorongoro. The crater has a lot to offer. An alkaline lake that is 85meters deep covers it.
The lake changes color depending on the time of the day attracting a thousand of flamingo birds.
One can also be in position to see the blue monkey, waterbuck, buffaloes, bushbuck, hyenas and elephants among others.
Crater Hiking
Hike around the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater for stunning views and a unique perspective of the landscape.The crater offers an excellent view of the animals and the plants around the area.
Olduvai Gorge
Visit this archaeological site, often referred to as the “Cradle of Mankind,” to learn about early human ancestors. There is a museum with fascinating exhibits.
Hot air ballooning
This is an adventurous way to explore the vast crater and surrounding areas. Hot air ballooning is a very interesting activity to carry out especially during the great migration when the wildebeest are roaming around the crater and nearby Serengeti.
Olmoti crater
Olmoti is a local word used among the Maasai meaning the “cooking pot,” it stands at 3080 meters above the sea level.
The crater provides a good spot for hiking and nature walks. Most of the Maasai herdsmen use the place as the grazing point where they take their domestic animals and graze them alongside the buffaloes, bushbucks, eland and the reedbuck.
Lake Magadi
Lake Magadi is one of the best places for birding in Tanzania and highly recommendable for bird lovers. It attracts thousands of the wading birds such as flamingos and the pelicans.
You cannot have enough of Ngorongoro conservation area in Tanzania just in a day. Worry less and book your escape with Beyond Sight Safaris where every trip is a story.
