Ngorongoro Conservation Area
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site located in the crater highlands of Tanzania. Ngorongoro is situated 180 kilometers west of Arusha. Ngorongoro is named for the Ngorongoro crater located in the region. Ngorongoro, founded in 1959, encompasses an area of 8,292 square kilometers. Ngorongoro is a component of the Serengeti ecosystem, adjacent to Serengeti National Park to the northwest, and bordered by the Serengeti plains to the south. The eastern limits of the Ngorongoro are delineated by the edge of the East African Rift Valley escarpment.
Ngorongoro is one of the largest protected areas in Tanzania, drawing a significant number of tourists each year. The diverse wildlife, magnificent landscapes, avian species, and numerous calderas all entice people to see this naturally endowed location. The Ngorongoro Crater is the primary attraction for travelers visiting the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
Attractions in Ngorongoro Conservation Area
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area boasts numerous attractions that draw substantial numbers of travelers annually. The following are the attractions in Ngorongoro:
Ngorongoro Crater
Ngorongoro Crater is the largest dormant, undamaged, and unfilled volcanic crater globally, measuring 610 meters in depth and encompassing over 265 square kilometers, renowned for its high density of species. The Ngorongoro Crater offers travelers breathtaking vistas. The Ngorongoro Crater contains soda lakes, such as Lake Magadi, which attract a diverse array of avian species, including flamingos and other aquatic birds. Picnics can be conducted here, providing a view to admire.
Craters
In addition to the Ngorongoro Crater, there are several craters within Ngorongoro that travelers explore alongside the primary one. The Olmoti caldera and Empakai caldera are additional volcanic craters that draw tourists to Ngorongoro, with the former renowned for its magnificent waterfalls and the later distinguished by its deep lake surrounded by verdant cliffs.
Olduvai Gorge
The Olduvai Gorge is a significant archeological site in East Africa, notable for the discovery of the first Zinjathropus skull. The historical site of Olduvai Gorge attracts several travelers to Ngorongoro to observe the ancient skull and gain insights on human evolution.
Shifting sand
Shifting sand is an enigmatic phenomenon in which sand dunes relocate while preserving their original form. This shifting sand is historically thought to originate from the active volcanic peak of Oldonyo Lengai, where the sand dunes migrate approximately 10 meters to a different location over the course of a year.
Wildlife
The fauna of Ngorongoro is highly diverse, featuring several species like as wildebeests, zebras, wild dogs, cheetahs, reedbucks, gazelles, spotted hyenas, hippos, elands, and blue monkeys, among others. The majority of tourists frequent the Ngorongoro Conservation Area for the purpose of observing wildlife.
Big five
The Big Five can be observed in Ngorongoro, one of the few national parks in Tanzania where tourists can view all of them simultaneously. The Big Five consist of lions, elephants, leopards, buffaloes, and rhinoceroses. The black rhinos in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area are distinctive, attracting several people during game drives. The Ngorongoro Crater possesses the highest density of lions. The Ndutu Lake region in the western part of the conservation area hosts significant populations of cheetahs, lions, hartebeests, and jackals. Serval cats are commonly observed around Ngorongoro.
Bird life in Ngorongoro
Ngorongoro hosts a diverse array of avian species that birdwatchers can observe throughout their excursions. Bird species include yellow wagtails, saddle-billed storks, ostriches, Kori bustards, and smaller flamingos, among others.
Engagements in Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Tourists on a Tanzania safari can engage in several activities in Ngorongoro. Activities encompass game drives, walking safaris, avian observation, tours of the Oldupai Museum, cultural excursions, and picnicking.
Optimal period for visiting Ngorongoro Conservation Area
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is accessible year-round, throughout both the wet and dry seasons. The dry season, spanning from May to October, is optimal for observing wildlife congregating around water sources. During the wet season, from November to April, tourists may still visit the Ngorongoro Conservation Area to partake in game viewing, as the verdant grass provides ample grazing for animals, while predators conceal themselves to ambush their victims.
How to get to Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Ngorongoro is accessible via both road and air transportation. Tourists travel around 160 kilometers by road, taking almost 2 hours to reach Ngorongoro from Arusha. A four-wheel-drive vehicle is recommended. Tourists can reach Ngorongoro by air, flying from Kilimanjaro International Airport to one of the airstrips in the Ngorongoro region.
Ngorongoro offers a variety of accommodation alternatives for tourists, including luxury, midrange, and economy accommodations. All campsites in Ngorongoro, with the exception of Simba, are designated as special, necessitating that travelers arrive with all requisite amenities, as they are intended for self-sufficient safari enthusiasts. Opulent accommodations such as Ngorongoro Crater Lodge and Ngorongoro Forest Tented Lodge are ideal for those seeking unparalleled comfort and exceptional service.
Organizing a Tanzania safari and want to identify essential experiences not to overlook? The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is precisely what you require. Request your selected tour operator to incorporate it into your Tanzania safari journey to ensure the cultivation of exceptional memorable experiences.