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Ngorongoro Conservation Area – Facts & Tanzania Safari Guide
Ngorongoro Conservation Area encompasses a spectacular mosaic of landscapes and an immense concentration of wildlife that portrays the true meaning of an African safari. It makes for a perfect spot to observe a diversity of wildlife at any time of year. Therefore, this guide provides facts and safaris in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
Ngorongoro Conservation Area at a Glance
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area, which comprises the Ngorongoro Crater, sprawls over an 8,292 km2 area in northern Tanzania, 180 km (110 mi) west of Arusha City. Established in 1959, the conservation area covers vast expanses of the crater (from which it gets its name), crater highlands, forests, Olduvai Gorge, lakes, rivers, streams, savanna and woodlands. This stunning combination of landscape and wildlife rivals those in neighboring Serengeti and Masai Mara.
With all-year-round game viewing, the huge and perfect crater hosts a small relict population of black rhinoceros and some 25,000 other large mammals, largely ungulates (hoofed), as well as the highest density of mammalian predators in Africa, such as lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, and jackals.
The lake-filled Empakaai crater and the active volcano of Oldonyo Lenga are not far from this spectacular UNESCO World Heritage Site. Ancient discoveries such as Homo habilis and 3.5-million-year-old human footprints as a result of excavations in the Olduvai Gorge and Laetoli to the west have made the area one of the world’s most important sites for research on the evolution of human species.
Attractions in Ngorongoro Conservation Area
1. Vegetation
The steep slopes are covered by montane long grasslands, scrub heath, high open moorland, and the remains of dense evergreen montane forests, while the highland trees include peacock flower (Albizzia gummifera) and real yellowwood, among others.
Open, short grass plains with fresh and brackish water lakes, swamps, marshes, and two patches of Acacia woodland make up the crater floor. The undulating western plains are usually grass-covered with occasional umbrella acacia trees, which become almost deserted during periods of severe drought.
These extensive grasslands and bush are rich, relatively untouched by cultivation, and support very large animal populations. The stunning landscape of Ngorongoro Crater, combined with its spectacular wildlife density, is one of the world’s greatest natural wonders.
2. Wildlife
Ngorongoro Conservation Area represents one of the world’s greatest and most significant reservoirs of large mammal biodiversity. An estimated 25,000 large mammals, mostly ungulates, including the black rhinos, buffalos, and hippos live in the crater.
Others include wildebeest, zebra, eland, and Grant’s and Thomson’s gazelles. Waterbucks are seen mainly near Lerai Forest while cheetahs, African wild dogs, and leopards are rarely seen although present. Spotted hyenas are common residents.
A considerable population of wildebeest, zebra, and gazelles vacate the crater in the wet season, while buffalos stay in their highest numbers during the rainy season. Servals can be seen widely on the western plains of the crater. Lake Magadi is a large alkaline lake in the southwestern section of the crater, and it is a haven for thousands of lesser flamingos.
Activities in Ngorongoro Conservation Area
1. Game drives
Every visitor to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area usually embarks on a remarkable game drive in the Ngorongoro Crater. Game drives are by far the best way to view wildlife in the Ngorongoro Crater. Game-viewing safaris around the conservation area, and particularly entry into the Crater, are conducted by 4WD vehicles only.
The crater is an enormous unbroken volcanic caldera with a bowl-like shape that overflows with wildlife such as the big five (elephant, lion, leopard, rhino and buffalo), wildebeest, servals, wild dogs, and hyenas among others. The crater rim rises 600m meaning you will descend onto the crater floor along one of a handful of zigzag roads. Wildlife enthusiasts will need at least three days to explore each and every section of the crater.
2. Bird Watching
Ngorongoro Conservation Area is a perfect birder’s paradise, hosting over 550 species of both resident and migratory birds. The diverse range of vegetation in the area and the topography, which includes marshes, grassland plains, lakes, and highlands, provide habitats for a wide range of bird life.
The wet seasons see the arrival of migrant species from Europe, Asia, and North Africa at the pools. White storks, yellow wagtails, and swallows mingle with the local endemics such as flamingos, saddle-billed storks, stilts, rufus, ibises, and various species of duck.
Lake Magadi, a salt lake on the crater floor is a particular haven for thousands of lesser flamingos and other water birds. Species such as turaco and hornbill inhabit the forests and bushes, while raptors and scavengers are commonly seen on the plains of the conservation area. Grassland birds such as ostriches, gray-crowned cranes, and Kori bustards are also present here.
3. Archaeological tours
Those interested in tracing the lives of the ancestors of man are rewarded with special guided tours to archaeological sites, mainly the excavation sites at Olduvai Gorge and Laetoli. Visiting both Olduvai Gorge and Laetoli can be done throughout the year.
4. Cultural tours
Visit the Maasai cultural bomas in Ngorongoro to experience the unique culture of this tribe and interact with the locals, or simply take photographs or buy souvenirs.
5. Walking safaris
Both short and long walks are rewarding in the conservation area. Short walks include trekking down Olmoti Craters or Empakai, while long walks include trekking from Olmoti to Empakai and down to the Great Rift Valley floor. The Northern Highlands Forest Reserve and the Eastern Plains around Nasera Rock, Gol Mountains, and Olkarien Gorge are also ideal spots for walking safaris.
Best time to visit Ngorongoro Conservation Area
The best time to visit Ngorongoro Conservation Area is in the dry season of June to September (high season). During this time, there is little, or no rainfall and the vegetation is sparse. Animals will be concentrated around water holes making it easier to see them. However, high visitor numbers can be expected at this time, which means overcrowding and high rates due to high demand.
Although the roads around the crater can get rather muddy, March to May (low season) sees fewer visitors, and the scenery is lush and green compared to the dusty dry season landscape. The wet season is also a perfect time for avid birders to explore the rich birdlife in this enclosed habitat. Both endemic and migratory birds are present, and it is the breeding season.
Generally, wildlife viewing in Ngorongoro Conservation Area is excellent throughout the year. That means any time of year you visit, you will enjoy everything Ngorongoro has to offer.
How to get to Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Ngorongoro Conservation Area is located on the way to the Serengeti and is only a three-hour drive from the town of Arusha, the starting point of all safaris in northern Tanzania. You’ll then have to drive the whole circuit by safari vehicle, or better yet, you can fly around the parks of the northern circuit by small aircraft on chartered or scheduled flights from Arusha.
A popular option is to fly to the Serengeti and make your way back by safari vehicle through Ngorongoro Crater, or the other way around. Usually, it’s your tour operator who will pick you up from the airport.
Most people will visit the Conservation Area as part of a bigger safari package, including a visit to the Serengeti. The distance to the crater is about 140 km (90 mi), and the driving time is about three hours from the Seronera area in the Serengeti. This obviously takes much longer, allowing sufficient time for wildlife viewing along the way. The 180km (110 mi) drive from Tarangire to Ngorongoro Crater takes about four hours, and the 80 km (50 mi) drive from Lake Manyara takes about two hours.
Where to stay in Ngorongoro
Luxury lodges situated within and outside the Ngorongoro Conservation Area include.
- Gibb’s Farm
- The Octagon Safari Lodge.
- Acacia Farm Lodge.
- Ganako Luxury Lodge.
- Ngorongoro Rhino Lodge.
- Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge.
- Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge.
- Ngorongoro Wildlife Lodge.
- Ndutu Safari Lodge.
- Ngorongoro Crater Lodge.
- Ngorongoro Farmhouse.
