Ngorongoro is a Tanzanian ‘must-see’. The Ngorongoro Crater, a caldera or ‘collapsed-in’ volcano – while only covering 260 km² – includes a diverse range of habitats including montane forest, grasslands, Acacia forests, a salt-lake and swampy areas. The diversity of the habitat provides home to an incredibly wide range of birds and animals, including the Big Five, in a concentrated area. Accommodation around the rim of the crater provides spectacular views and easy access to the crater.

 

Paradise in a Hole

The Ngorongoro Crater is literally a hole in the ground, formed when a giant volcano exploded and caved in on itself. Over time wind-blown sands and seeds built up on the shallow volcanic bed and a paradise was born.Today the crater is home to a multitude of wildlife, attracted by the nutritious vegetation and sufficient water resources. Hosting a variety of eco-systems, from grasslands to forests, the Ngorongoro Crater truly is a natural wonderland.There is no accommodation in the crater itself but there are lodges set on the crater rim with spectacular views of the crater floor. Game drives bring visitors into a wildlife spectacular. Cultural interaction with the Maasai can be experienced form the Ngorongoro Crater lodges and campsites in the area.

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Ngorongoro Conservation Area

The Crater is the heart of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area which also includes the southern-most plains of the Serengeti and Olduvai Gorge. The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is a unique concept - where wildlife and humans utilise the land. The Maasai people of Tanzania who live in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area are allowed to graze their cattle but are not allowed to cultivate crops on a commercial basis. Olduvai Gorge is considered the Cradle of Mankind for all the fossils that have been unearthed over the years - pointing to the region as the birthplace of humankind.

 

Wildlife in Ngorongoro

Within the Ngorongoro Crater, there is a huge concentration of wildlife, including all of the Big Five. hippo and crocodile, zebra, a wide range of antelope and plains game live here. Regular sightings of the highly endangered black rhino are reported. It’s estimated that about 25 000 big animals live within this natural enclosure. Expect to see many animals within a short space of time in the fertile 'bowl' created by the caldera.

Ngorongoro Crater is also a special place for birders. The salt lake in the crater is often home to hundreds of beautiful, pink flamingos and birds of prey soar through the skies above.

 

Things to See and Do in Ngorongoro

• Game drives within the crater

• Walks along the crater rim

• Meet the Maasai people and learn about their culture and traditions

• Day trips to the fascinating Olduvai Gorge, known as the ‘Cradle of Man’

• See Empakaai Crater, the lesser-known, younger sister of Ngorongoro Crater

 

When to go to Ngorongoro Crater

The Ngorongoro is a year round safari destination with great game viewing at all times. To combine the Ngorongoro with the Serengeti Migrations it is best to go between January and March when the herds are in the southern plains of the Serenegeti and spilling over into the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

 

How to get to Ngorongoro Crater

The easiest way of getting to Ngorongoro is via Arusha by flying into Kilimanjaro International Airport and then driving the fascinating route through some of Tanzania's most dramatic landscapes. The Crater is usually done in combination with the Serengeti and other parks.