The best of Ngorongoro Conservation Area

The Ngorongoro Conservation Area was considered the largest Area established as a separate conservation area in 1959 and covers about 8400 sq km including the volcanic highlands. It extends from Lake Manyara in the east, lake Natron in the northeast and Lake Eyasi in the south. There are four main features including; the crater, lakes, mountains and the forests. The crater includes; the Ngorongoro crater, the Olmoti and the Empakai crater, the lakes include; lake Natron and Lake Magadi soda. The mountains include; the OldonyoLengai which is still active. The forests include the famous forested areas of the Olduvai Gorge.

Ngorongoro Crater - Tanzania safari

Ngorongoro Crater – Tanzania safari

The Ngorongoro crater is the largest unbroken caldera in the whole world and covers an area of 260 square km. The crater measures 20 kilometres in diameter. The crater floor is also full of big and small wild animals that are resident there. Due to its beautiful view, it becomes the 8th natural wonder of the world that was formed after a massive volcanic eruption.

The tourists can visit the crater any time of the years, however, the best season is during the dry season of July to October and December to March. It can be accessed by a 4WD by road from Arusha town to the Olduare gate which is tarmac and covers 190km via MtowaMbu and the Karatu village.

Lions resting in Ngorongoro Conservation Area

This crater is sometimes called “Africa’s Eden and the 8th Natural Wonder of the World. A visit to the crater is a must for the tourists that come to Tanzania and it’s a world-class attraction. Inside the crater, there are large herds of zebras and the wildebeests that graze near the lions in the sun. The crater is 8,300 sq km in size, located in Ngorongoro Conservation Area, and the most accommodation facilities are the two luxury lodge.

This Ngorongoro crater is a recessed volcano, or the better termed as the largest intact volcanic caldera, also the view from the crest of the crater will give you an extensive sight of the crater that extends over 260 sq kilometres. The Masai people graze their cattle into and out of the crater daily for the water. This crater is small and one can visit the floor of this crater at any time.

The things to do in Ngorongoro Conservation Area include; hiking, game drives, nature walks, the visit to the Olduvai Gorge and a visit to the Maasai boma. Its only one and half day needed to see the crater and the game drives are limited to half days.

Olduvai Gorge - Tanzania

Olduvai Gorge – Tanzania

The Olduvai Gorge is also on the Serengeti’s eastern plains and found in Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The site is ancient and this is where Mary Leakey discovered the skull of Zinjathropus or the Nutcracker Man. In recent days, the Masai people live and herd their live stork in the area they call Oldupai after the endemic sisal which grows wild with in the area.

The fauna and flora found here include; the swamps, lakes, woodland, grassland, heath, the dense Montanan forest. The wildlife includes; gazelles, zebras, black Rhinos, lions, wildebeests, spotted hyenas, hippos, elephants, buffalos, the mountain reedbuck, serval, the ostrich, papiliosjoestedti and the kori bastard.