Ngorongoro Crater Travel Guide: An international biosphere reserve and a designated UNESCO World heritage site (1979) that is located in the North of Tanzania. Established in 1959, Ngorongoro conservation area covers an area of 3,202 sq. miles (8,292 sq, km) shared by the wildlife and the Massai people plus their livestock.
The area is named after a true beauty of nature, the unbroken volcanic caldera, Ngorongoro Crater, the largest of its kind in the entire world. We offer some of the best helicopter safaris to Ngorongoro Crater in Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
Location and accessibility
Ngorongoro conservation area is located within the Crater highlands of Tanzania, West of Arusha close to other national parks within Tanzania’s northern safari circuit, that is Serengeti Lake Manyara and Tarangire national park. It is part of the Serengeti Ecosystem that supports the great wildebeest migration.
The park can be accessed by road from Arusha, which is the start of most safaris to the North of Tanzania. You can also charter a small plane for a domestic flight to Ngorongoro conservation area’s airstrip.
Ngorongoro Crater
The world’s largest caldera is the highlight and main attraction of tourists to the conservation area. It is one of Africa’s 7 Natural Wonders, 1 of the 3 from Tanzania on that list. The 2,000 feet deep unbroken caldera is home to 30,000 animals and lots of different bird species which can be seen while on a 5-hour long game drive at the floor of the crater. The crater is one of the few places in you can see all the big 5 while on a safari in Tanzania.
Wildlife
115 different species of animals inhabit the different habitats of Ngorongoro conservation area. The Crater alone is home to over 25,000 animals living within its unbroken lush green walls. Areas around Lake Ndutu near Serengeti national park, the Northwestern part of the crater and the short grass plains West of the Gol mountains are the other areas in the Ngorongoro that offer great wildlife game viewing adventures. Animals in Ngorongoro include; lions, hyenas, leopards, cheetahs, hippos, buffalos, jackals, elephants, zebras, black rhinos, baboons, elands, vervet monkeys, waterbucks, warthogs, bushbucks among others.
Impalas, topis and giraffes are not found with the Crater.
Bird-life
Over 500 different bird species inhabit different areas of Ngorongoro conservation area. Both resident and migrant species which come into the park during the wet season. Best spots to view birds in the conservation area are around Lake Ndutu, Lake Magadi at the floor of Ngorongoro crater, the Empakaai crater lake and the Ngorongoro woods.
Olduvai Gorge
A world important archaeological site located in Ngorongoro conservation area. Several discoveries that have helped us know more about the evolution of humans over the years were unearthed from this site by the Leakey family. They unearthed remains of extinct creatures, early hominids and stone age tools. Visit the nearby Olduvai Gorge Museum to know more about the different discoveries.
Activities in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Game drives
Bird watching
Guided natural walk / Crater rim walks
Hikes into Empakai crater
Cultural visits to Masai communities
Photographic tours
Picnicking at the Ngoitokitok springs
Visit the archaeological excavation sites (Olduvai gorge and Laetoli)
Best time to visit Ngorongoro Conservation Area
During the dry months of June to late September. The months of December to February for a chance to witness the wildebeest calving season. That kick starts the Great Wildebeest migration. For a private experience, you can visit during the wet season which is also considered the low season. During this time, tourists are few in the area.