Ngorongoro conservation area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the wonders of the world. It is in the northern part of Tanzania and is part of the northern safari circuit. It is about 153 kilometres west of Arusha town, which is a big tourist safari destination in Tanzania. Ngorongoro conservation area is a unique destination to go on a safari in Tanzania. It is part of the Serengeti ecosystem, and Ndutu region is where this conservation area and the southern part of Serengeti national park meet. Serengeti national park is right next to the Ngorongoro conservation area. Ngorongoro conservation area is 50 kilometres from Lake Manyara national park, 139 kilometres from Tarangire national park, and 213 kilometres from Arusha national park.
Ngorongoro crater is the area’s biggest safari attraction. It is the world’s largest unbroken volcanic caldera and is 2,000 feet deep and 260 square kilometres wide. Ngorongoro crater emerged as a result of volcanic explosion and after its formation it collapsed in about 2-3 million years ago. Because Ngorongoro crater is so special, it was named a world Heritage site of global significance in 1979. Aside from the Ngorongoro crater, Ngorongoro reserve area has other beautiful safari destinations that are also highlights of Tanzania safaris in this area. Oldupai or Olduvai Gorge, which is known as the “cradle of man,” is one of these features. Olduvai Gorge is a mysterious archaeological site where the remains of the first humans on earth were found by paleoanthropologists Louis Leakey and his wife Mary Leakey in the 1950s. There are also Laetoli footprints, Nasera rock, and the Olduvai Gorge Museum in the Ngorongoro protection area.
Ngorongoro conservation area extends throughout the area of 8,292 square kilometers with scenery that consists of a variety of physical features such as lakes, craters, swamps and many more. There are Ngorongoro crater, Empakaai crater, Olmoti crater, Lake Magadi, central plains, Lerai forest, Rumbe hills, Munge stream, Mandusi swamp, Gorigor swamp, Ngoitokitok springs, Gol Mountains, Mount Lolmalasin and Losirua, Lake Ndutu, Lake Maseke, Olkarien gorge, and the shifting sands. Inside the crater, grasslands make up most of the central plains of the Ngorongoro conservation area. The central plains are home to many different kinds of wildlife and are a great place for Tanzania game viewing safaris in the Ngorongoro conservation area.
Attractions in Ngorongoro conservation area.
Animal species.
Ngorongoro reserve area is an outstanding safari destination being the home of a lot of different kinds of animals to live in Tanzania. This is one of the reasons why it is one of the top destinations for wildlife tours in Tanzania. Ngorongoro protected area mostly consists of Over 250,000 large animals live in Ngorongoro crater. Grass plains rule the area west of the Gol Mountains, northeast of Ngorongoro crater, and around Lake Ndutu, which is close to the border of Serengeti national park. Predators like lions, spotted hyenas, cheetahs, leopards, black-backed jackals, golden-backed jackals, waterbucks, Bohor reedbucks, elands, warthogs, hartebeests, wildebeests, serval cats, elephants, black rhinos, zebras, and many more can be found in the Ngorongoro crater.
Bird species.
Ngorongoro conservation area is a magnificent destination to go on a birding safari in Tanzania. It has over 500 bird species, both resident and migratory. Some of the birds you can see there are thousands of lesser flamingos living in Lake Magadi, a salt lake on the floor of the crater, hornbills, turacos, goshawks, harriers, ostriches, kori bustards, Most of the birds in the Ngorongoro protection area live near Lake Ndutu, Empakaai crater lake, and the many grasslands in the savannah.
Safari activities to do in Ngorongoro conservation area.
Game drive.
Ngorongoro conservation area is a perfect safari destination to go on a Tanzania game viewing safari because it has great views of animals at work. You can see animals in the Ngorongoro conservation area by taking a 4X4 vehicle down through the lush forests to the crater floor. Game viewing sessions include a morning game drive, a full-day game drive, afternoon game drive and a night game drive. The morning game drive is the best time to see big cats like lions and leopards hunting for food. The night game drive is great for seeing predators like lions, leopards, and wild dogs with the help of a spotlight.
Animals like lions, spotted hyenas, cheetahs, leopards, black-backed jackals, golden-backed jackals, waterbucks, Bohor reedbucks, elands, warthogs, hartebeests, wildebeests, serval cats, elephants, and black rhinos can be seen from the windows of your vehicle on a game drive.
Bird watching.
Ngorongoro conservation area is a paradise for birdwatchers and a must-see on a Tanzania birding safari. It is home to more than 500 kinds of birds, both permanent and temporary, who live in the forest crayons, grassland plains, lakes like Lake Magadi, and marshes. A variety of bird species such as hornbill, turaco, goshawk, harrier, ostriches, Kori bustards, crowned cranes, secretary birds, African spoonbill, capped wheatear, eastern double-collared sunbird, Egyptian vulture, fan tailed widow bird, fan-tailed widow bird, Hartlaub’s turaco, red and yellow barbet, scarlet-chested sunbird, white eyed salty flycatcher and many more are spotted on a birding safari in Ngorongoro conservation area. The best part of bird watching safari in Ngorongoro reserve area is spotting lesser flamingos and other water birds on Lake Magadi, a salt lake on the floor of the crater.
Walking safaris.
Ngorongoro conservation area is finest destination for Tanzania walking safaris because it is a very exciting and rewarding site to visit. Walking safaris in the Ngorongoro conservation area are a great way to see the different tourist sites on foot with a safari guide. In Ngorongoro conservation area, you can go on different kinds of walking tours, such as short walks, crater rim walks, hikes to the Empakaai crater, climbs up the sides of the Olmoti volcano, and walks along Lake Eyasi.
These walks last from one to four hours and offer beautiful views of the crater floor and a lot of birds in the thick forest cover. Hike to the Empakaai crater is a full-day hike through the forests that surround the crater. Climb the flanks of the Olmoti volcano starts from the highlands camp and follows a trail through mountain forests, grasslands and outcrops to the summit of Olmoti Volcano. Walk along Lake Eyasi is a half-day walk in Maasai village and along the shores of Lake Eyasi.
Archaeological tours.
There are many archaeological sites in Ngorongoro conservation area that can be seen on archaeological walks. Olduvai Gorge and the Laetoli footprint are two examples of these sites. Olduvai Gorge is known as the “cradle of humanity” because it has some of the earliest remains of Homo humans. At Olduvai Gorge, there is a museum with a room for Oldupai and another for Laetoli that has a collection of things that Dr. Leakey and his wife found there. In the 1950s, paleoanthropologists Louis and Mary Leakey found a fossil in Olduvai Gorge. This fossil can be seen on archaeological walks in the Ngorongoro conservation area.
Camping safaris.
Ngorongoro conservation area is best destination to go on a camping excursion in Tanzania. There are many public campsites and special campsites that can be used, and some of them are on the edge of Empakaai crater. Special campsites in the Ngorongoro conservation area have things campers need, like places to buy food, and are usually big. Public campsites, on the other hand, have less amenities, like toilets and showers, and are usually for hikers. Camping safaris in the Ngorongoro conservation area can be booked at the offices of the Ngorongoro conservation area Authority.
Cultural tours.
Cultural tours in Ngorongoro conservation area take tourists to see the interesting Masai people. Maasai people have a unique culture that hasn’t been changed much by modernity and technology, which is why they are one of the best groups to see on a cultural tour of Tanzania. Maasai communities border the Ngorongoro conservation area, and when tourists go on a Tanzania cultural tour in their community, they can learn more about the Maasai people’s beliefs, customs, and rules. In the Maasai community, other customary activities to do include going on tours of the cultural Bomas, trying out local foods, raising cattle, and wearing shukas and beautiful hand-made accessories like big, colorful necklaces.
Where to stay in Ngorongoro conservation area.
Accommodation in Ngorongoro conservation area is available in an extensive variety of lodges and camps which are offered in 3 status that are Luxury, midrange and Budget. Accommodation in Ngorongoro conservation area include Ngorongoro crater lodge, Lemala Ngorongoro Tented camp, Ngorongoro Spa Lodge, Serena Ngorongoro Lodge, Ang’ata Ngorongoro camp, Neptune Ngorongoro Luxury lodge, Lion’s paw cam, Ngorongoro Forest Tented lodge, Hhando coffee lodge, Ngorongoro wildlife lodge, Ngorongoro Rhino lodge, Ngorongoro Oldeani Mountain Lodge and many more.
How to get to Ngorongoro conservation area.
Getting to Ngorongoro conservation area can be accomplished using air and road means of transport, Ngorongoro conservation area is situated in in a distance of about 173 kilometers from Arusha a prominent tourism city in Tanzania. From the city of Arusha, you can drive to Loduare Gate, which is near the town of Karatu. There are also ways to get to Ngorongoro Conservation Area from places like Serengeti National Park, Lake Manyara National Park, and many others on the northern safari tour.
By air, you can get to Ngorongoro Conservation Area on direct flights or local chartered flights. You can also take direct flights to the Kilimanjaro International Airport, which is 46 kilometres away and is the gateway to the town of Arusha. From Kilimanjaro International Airport, you can take a local flight to either the Ngorongoro or Lake Ndutu airstrips. Air Tanzania, Precision Air, Regional Air, Zan Air, Safari Air Link, and Coastal Aviation all offer domestic chartered trips to Ngorongoro Conservation Area.