Called the eighth wonder of the world and
stretching across some 8,300 sq km, the Ngorongoro Conservancy in
northern Tanzania boasts a blend of landscapes, wildlife, people and
archaeology that is unsurpassed in Africa. The volcanoes, grasslands,
waterfalls and mountain forests are home to an abundance of animals and
to the Masai.
Ngorongoro Crater is one of the world's greatest natural spectacles, its
magical setting and abundant wildlife never fail to enthral visitors. It
borders the Serengeti National Park to the north and west. A few hours
drive to the east takes you to the town of Arusha which nestles at the
foot of Mount Meru, within view of Mount Kilimanjaro. Arusha is known as
the gateway to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and the Northern Parks.
To visit the Ngorongoro conservancy
area, check out some of our
Tanzania
safari itineraries
A visit to the crater is a
main attraction for tourists coming to Tanzania and a definite
awe inspiring attraction. Within the crater perimeter, large
herds of zebra and wildebeest graze nearby while latent lions
doze in the sun. At sunrise, the endangered black rhino returns
to the deep cover of the crater forests after grazing on
dew-laden grass in the morning mist. Just outside the crater’s
ridge, tall Masai herdsmen herd their cattle and goats on the
green pastures across the slopes, living alongside the wildlife
as they have for centuries.
Ngorongoro Conservation Area includes its
famed crater, Olduvai Gorge, and huge expanses of flat terrain,
scrub bush, and forests that cover approximately 8300 square
kilometers. A protected area, only native tribe of the Masai are
allowed to live within its precincts. Lake Ndutu and Masek, both
alkaline soda lakes are home to rich wildlife populations, as
well as a series of peaks and volcanoes and make the
Conservation Area a matchless and stunning landscape.
The crater itself, actually a warped
volcano called a caldera, is the chief attraction. Lodging is
sited on the crater rims and after a striking descent down the
crater brim, passing verdant rain forest and deep vegetation,
the vegetation opens to grassy plains throughout the crater
floor. The game viewing is truly incredible, and the topography
and views of the surrounding Crater Highlands out of this world.
This truly magical place is home to
Olduvai Gorge, where the Leakey family discovered the hominoid
remains of a 1.8 million year old skeleton of Australopithecus
boisei, one of the distinct links of the human evolutionary
chain. In a small ravine just north of the crater, the Leakeys
and their team of international archaeologists unearthed the
remains of at least 3 distinct hominoid species, and also came
upon a complete series of hominoid footprints projected to be
over 3.7 million years old. Evacuated fossils show that the area
is one of the oldest sites of hominoid habitation in the world.
The Ngorongoro Crater and the Ngorongoro
Conservation Area are without a doubt some of the most beautiful
parts of Tanzania, rich in history and teeming with wildlife.
Besides vehicle safaris to Ngorongoro Crater, Olduvai Gorge, and
surrounding attractions, hiking treks through the Ngorongoro
Conservation Area are becoming more and more popular
attractions. Whichever way you desire to vacation, the Crater
Highlands are a memorable part of the Tanzanian safari
experience.
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