Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Ngorongoro Conservation Area, one of the most inhabited conservation areas in Africa, encompasses extensive stretches of highland plains, savanna, savanna woods, and forests with remarkable beauty that will turn you on.In the northern highlands of Tanzania, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area is home to one of the most breathtaking safari experiences on the planet. The 8,292 square kilometer Ngorongoro Conservation Area is located 180 kilometers west of Arusha.. The Conservation Area spreads on vast expanses of the high land plains, savanna, savanna woodlands and forests adjacent from the plains of Serengeti National Park in the North West and the Eastern arm of the Great Rift Valley. The area was established in 1959 as a multiple land use area, with wildlife coexisting with semi-nomadic Maasai pastoralists practicing traditional livestock grazing. It includes the spectacular Ngorongoro Crater, the world’s largest caldera, and Olduvai Gorge, a 14km long deep ravine.

Ngorongoro Conservation Area is a protected UNESCO World Heritage Site that was established in 1959. Due to the presence of internationally endangered species, the abundance of wildlife there, and the annual migration of wildebeest, zebra, gazelles, and other animals into the northern plains, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area is significant for the conservation of biodiversity worldwide. Extensive archaeological research has also yielded a long sequence of evidence of human evolution and human-environment dynamics, including early hominid footprints dating back 3.6 million years.

The vast Serengeti ecosystem includes the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is home to a spectacular landscape and a great concentration of animals, and it has remarkably thrived as one of the world’s greatest natural wonders. Over a million animals pass through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area on their way to the Serengeti region every year as part of the annual wildebeest migration. The yearly wildebeest migration in the Area is one of the greatest terrestrial mammal migrations that have ever taken place on the planet and is one of the few undisturbed natural migrations in the world.

The Ngorongoro Crater, a large volcanic caldera in the region, inspired the name of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The largest intact, inactive, and empty volcanic crater in the world is known as Ngorongoro Crater. A significant volcanic explosion that occurred on the Crater itself two or three million years ago is what caused it to form. The Ngorongoro Crater is 260 square kilometers in size and has a floor area of around 610 meters. Olmoti and Empakaai Craters were also formed, though to a lesser extent, as a result of ongoing eruptions comparable to those that created Ngorongoro Crater. Seize the opportunity to visit the largest crater in the world and one of Africa’s seven greatest natural wonders.Ngorongoro crater is exceptional with high wildlife concentration including all the big five. An estimated 25,000 animals and hundreds of birds live on the crater floor including the lions, black rhino, wildebeest, zebra, Thomson’s and Grant’s gazelle, elephants and giraffe.

The Crater rim offers a great chance to spot the herds journey across the base in long columns and when an eye is kept wide open there is great chance to spot rhinos in the bushes and the old bull elephants with long majestic tusks around the Gorigor Swamp.

Wildlife in Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Approximately 25,000 large animals, mostly ungulates, live in the crater. Large mammals in the crater include the black rhinoceros, the local population of which declined from about 108 in 1964-66 to between 11–14 in 1995, the African buffalo or Cape buffalo, and the hippopotamus. There also are many other ungulates: the blue wildebeest, Grant’s zebra, the eland, and Grant’s, and Thomson’s gazelles. Waterbucks occur mainly near Lerai Forest.

Despite having large populations of animal species, some species are absent here and these include; Giraffe, impala topi, oribi, and crocodile.

Cheetah, East African wild dog, and African leopard, are rarely seen.The leopards however lurk in the lerai forest and lion prides powl the plains. To the northern part of the Crater is the Olmoti volcano that offers a chance to view wildlife in abundance with animals such as the buffalo, zebra and the hyena. On your trip to Ngorongoro Conservation Area, a hike down to the Empakaai Crater is preferable with it offering a great chance to view the thousands of pink flamingoes around the edge of the soda lake.

What is the best time to Visit Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Best time to visit Ngorongoro – Between June and October is always a dry season and the vegetation in the Crater becomes less dense making wildlife spotting much easier,  with much more dryer days in the period makes it much more accessible. The major animals that can be spotted during the periods include the big cats and most animal in this period can be seen clustering around the permanent water sources and thus the greater time for animal sighting. The temperatures between this period are however not too hot with maximum temperatures reaching up to 20C, and also tend to be dusty and the sun makes photographing easier and beautiful.

Other frequently asked Questions about Ngorongoro Conservation Area

What is special about Ngorongoro Conservation Area?

Ngorongoro Conservation Area of Tanzania is home to the Ngorongoro Crater. This highly visited African attraction is one of the world’s largest inactive, unbroken and unfilled volcanic caldera. The crater floor is also famed for great densities of wild animal with up to 25,000 animals and hundreds of birds living on the crater floor including the lions, black rhino, wildebeest, zebra, Thomson’s and Grant’s gazelle, elephants and giraffe.

Is Ngorongoro Crater worth visiting?

If you’re in Tanzania, Ngorongoro Conservation Area is worth a visit. In addition to amazing vistas, the location provides a fantastic safari experience. The Ngorongoro Crater, the sixth-largest intact volcanic caldera in the world, and Olduvai Gorge are located here, flanking the eastern side of the Serengeti. A trip to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area is highly recommended.

What is Ngorongoro Famous for?

Africa’s highest concentration of big game may be found in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, which is also home to the biggest intact volcanic crater in the world. The conservation area is a good choice and one of the most well-known safari destinations on the continent.