Ngorongoro Crater Tanzania lies in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, which extends across vast expanses of highland plains, open savanna woodlands and forests. It was created in 1959 as a multiple land use area, with wildlife co-existing with semi-nomadic Maasai pastoralists who practice traditional livestock grazing, involving the spectacular Ngorongoro Crater and the world’s largest caldera. The density of wildlife inhabitants the area and the annual migration of wildebeest, zebra, gazelles, among others into the northern plains.
Extensive archaeological research is yielded a long sequence of evidence of human evolution and human–environment dynamics, involving early hominid footprints dating back 3.6 million years.
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area measures ‘’809,440 ha’’ spans across vast expanses of highland plains, and savanna woodlands. These plains start from the Serengeti National Park in the northwest, to the eastern arm of the Great Rift Valley. This property has global importance for biodiversity conservation in view of the presence of globally threatened species like the black Rhino and biodiversity of wildlife such as the annual migration of wildebeest, zebra, Thompson’s and Grant’s gazelles as well as other ungulates into the northern plains.
Ngorongoro Conservation Area’s History
This area was established in the late 1800s by the Austrian explorer Oscar Baumann, and it has been exploited in different ways since then until the British created the Serengeti National Park in 1951, which is now turned into the ‘’Ngorongoro Conservation Area’’, protecting it from over exploitation and poaching. More so, this area was officially established in 1959, significantly altering the use of this land, which had previously been regarded not only as a place where nature, flora and fauna is protected.
The objectives of creating the Ngorongoro Conservation Area were essentially three; promoting natural resource conservation, protecting native interests and last and encouraging ecotourism. The Ngorongoro Conservation Area was designated as a World Heritage Site in 1979 and was added to the list of UNESCO Biosphere Reserves in 1980. Later on, the conservation Area was included in the list of mixed world heritage sites by UNESCO IN 2010. Tanzania has been the capital of Africa’s New Seven Natural Wonders since 2013, Underappreciated areas go to; Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Kilimanjaro ‘’Africa’s highest summit, and Serengeti National Park.
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area also received another UNESCO accreditation in 2018; it has become part of the Ngorongoro – Lengai UNESCO Global Geopark in Northern Tanzania. Global Geopark, according to UNESCO are undivided geographical areas where internationally significant monuments and scenery landscapes are managed with a holistic idea of protection, education and sustainable development.
Interestingly, the Ngorongoro Lengai Geopark has over 117 attractions namely; the Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Natron, Mount Oldonyo Lengai, Empakai Crater, Grimezk Grave, Nasera Rock, Leakey Camp, Soitoo Quartzite Hills, Bao site, An’gatakiti Hills, Olkarien Gorge, Natural Stone Bridge, Rüppell’s Vulture, Accacia Rim Site, GoI Mountain, Lake Eyasi , Sacred Tree, Malanja Depression, Serengeti plain, Olduvai Gorges among others.
Wildlife In Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Ngorongoro Conservation Are house over 115 different animal species. Apart from the crater, the short grass plains west of the GoI Mountain, and to the northwest of Ngorongoro Crater, and the surroundings of Lake Ndutu which is close the Serengeti National Park border are the two main sites for game viewing. The two sites become grazing and breeding places to round 2 million animals as well as sustaining the Serengeti ecosystem’s annual wildebeest migration. Between December to May, over one million wildebeests and thousands of zebras and gazelles migrate south to calve in the short grass plains surrounding Ndutu, which straddle the Conservation Area and Serengeti National Park from the month of December to May.
Activities and attractions to see and do in Ngorongoro Crater
Despite the fact that, Ngorongoro crater is home to large population of wildlife species and many attractions. This has made it a stopping destination for numbery of tourists because of many activities they can engage in.
Some attractions within the crater are the wildlife species and happens to be a great location in the world where you can see all the Big five mammals of Africa such as Buffalos, Lions, Elephants, leopards and the Rhinos. Other tourists’ attractions to see include; bird species, the amazing caldera of Ngorongoro Crater, Gold Mountain, a visit to the Olduvai Museum and footprints at the Laetoli.
Game drive and wildlife viewing
Engaging in game drive viewing is the best way to see wildlife in the Ngorongoro Crater. It can be done in two shifts; morning and afternoon. Wildlife viewing in Ngorongoro is good all yea and the best season to visit the park, is during dry season, from December to March and June to September.
Photographic safari
Tanzania as an extremely hot photography holiday destination, stunned with snow- capped mountain peaks, Big five safari and amazing tropical Islands. Maasai tribesmen who live around the crater may be willing to participate in your photography adventure.
Visiting the Maasai Bomas
The crater is not only home to wildlife but also home of the Maasai tribe – one of the Africa’s most tremendous tribes. These Maasai tribesmen can be seen grazing their animals around the crater rim, despite the fact that they live outside the crater. Visiting the Maasai bomas, you will get to learn about their traditions and culture.
Take pleasure in Picnic Lunch
This is truly tremendous experience, having a lovely picnic meal in the African desert while surrounded by wildebeest. The Ngorongoro Conservation Area always offer what their visitors need by allowing them to participate in some of the remarkable activities like picnicking to ensure that their visitors have a good time and their safari expectations.
Walking safari
The walking safari adventure in Ngorongoro is quite enjoyable and interesting and can be done along the crater rim thus taking you through stunning greenery, past colorful wild flowers and lush tree to the Ngorongoro Highlands. Walk through montane forest allows you to watch bird species like Olive sunbird, Cinnamon-chested bee- eater and European roller among others. Also coming across larger animal species like giraffe, zebras and elephants many more.
Birdwatching
The Ngorongoro crater is documented over 500 bird species thus making the best places to meet your birding expectations.
Hot air balloon safari
Engaging in hot air balloon safari is the best way to appreciate and enjoy the scenic beauty of the crater. Other activities to do in Ngorongoro Crater area include; Visit Lake Magadi, Visit the Empakai Crater, Visit the Olduvai Gorge, Hiking safari,
Best Time to Visit in Ngorongoro Crater
Ngorongoro Crater hosts wide number of species and wildlife and is open for visiting all year round. There are two seasons which are every interesting; wet and peak season. During the wet season animals, be less in the park and road are impassable. For that reason, travelers opt to visit the park the month of June to September and December to February which are usually dry months. Some of the animal species expect to see include lions, cheetah, elephants, buffaloes and they come out in big number in search for water. During peak season, the roads are easy to navigate and animals can be seen clearly due to short grass.
Accommodations In the Ngorongoro Conservation Area
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area offers the best lodge/camps options, each with its own unique feature and luxuries, including Ngorongoro Crater Lodge, The highlands camp, Entamanu Camp, Kirurumu Ngorongoro, Lemala Ngorongoro Camp, Ngorongoro Serena Lodge, Ngorongoro Sopa
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area can either be reached by road or by air transport;
Road transport; From Arusha to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, drive through scenery land scape and enters the park through the Laoduare Gate, which is the main entrance and exist gate for the park near Karatu. Or you can enter through Naabi Hill Gate, which is located west of Serengeti National Park.
By Air transport; This is the best way to get to Ngorongoro, by flying into Dar es Salaam’s ‘’Julius Nyerere International Airport’’ and then to Arusha Airport or Kilimanjaro International Airport – roughly 46km from Arusha town. Get started now!
