Ngorongoro Crater

Ngorongoro Carter area or conservation area is a world heritage site protected by UNESCO. The carter area is located in the crater highlands area of Tanzania and 180km west of Arusha city.

The conservation area is known as one of the important tourist destinations of the Northern circuit area. The conservation area offers a great beauty as it is surrounded by volcanic carter, stunning Mountain View, spectacular wildlife and birdlife.

The conservation area is believed to be one of the highest altitudes in the country. It is considered to be higher than Kilimanjaro a few million years ago. There was a severe explosion that occurred on the volcano peak of the area which resulted in a big caldera in the area.

The conservation area is named after the caldera. The caldera of the area is known to be the largest, unbroken, and natural caldera of the world.

The conservation area has got its name from the caldera. The name actually doesn’t have any particular meaning. It is actually the sound of the cattle bell which was given by Maasaiwho are dependent on cattle for their daily live. The Maasai who got replaced from Serengeti was shifted to the Ngorongoro conservation area.

However, they again were evacuated from the highlands after the area was completely dedicated to the wildlife. However, they are still residing in the boundary areas of the national park. It is the only place where you can spot human residency near the wildlife conservation area.

The conservation has not only rich with wildlife but the diverse and mesmerizing landscape makes it unique. Sometimes it is addressed as Africa’s Garden of Eden. The conservation area is listed as the 7th natural wonder of Africa.

The scenic view and untamed game view attract more than 500,000 visitors each year. It is almost 60% of the total tourist population that is visiting Tanzania. The national park offers the largest game concentration in Africa.

The carter has received many world-renown personalities as its guests. The list includes; Prince Charles, queen of Denmark, ex-president of USA Mr. Barak Obama, and many Hollywood’s known faces.

The conservation area holds one of the important archaeological sites of the country. Olduvai Gorge of Ngorongoro conservation area is the place where the ashes and footprints of the hominoid invented. It proves that the earlier human used to reside in the country around 1.8 million years ago.

The conservation area offers a great game view including African Big Five. The place is well known for spotting the critically endangered black rhinos.

You can also explore following notable animal species;

African buffalo
Hippopotamus
Blue wildebeest
Grant's zebra
Common eland
Grant’s gazelles
Thomson's gazelles
Waterbucks
Giraffe
Impala
Topi
Cheetah
African wild dog
Leopard
Spotted hyena
Lions

Map

Uniqueness of Park

The Ngorongoro Crater is often called as the ‘Africa’s Eden’ and the ’8th Natural Wonder of the World’. It has as well being declared as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa. A visit to the crater is a main draw card for tourists coming to Tanzania and a definite world class attraction. Within the crater rim, large herds of zebra and wildebeest graze nearby while sleeping lions laze in the sun. At dawn, the endangered black rhino returns to the thick cover of the crater forests after grazing on dew-laden grass in the morning mist. Just outside the crater’s ridge, tall Masaai herd their cattle and goats over the green pastures through the highland slopes, living alongside the wildlife as they have for centuries.

Ngorongoro Conservation Area includes its eponymous famous crater, Olduvai Gorge, and huge expanses of highland plains, scrub bush, as well as forests that cover approximately 8300 square kilometers. Being a protected area, only indigenous tribes such as the Masaai are allowed to live within its borders. Lake Ndutu and Masek, both alkaline soda lakes are home to rich game populations, as well as a series of peaks and volcanoes that make the Conservation Area a unique and stunning landscape. Of course, the crater itself, actually a type of collapsed volcano called a caldera, is the main attraction. After a beautiful descent down the crater rim, passing through the lush rain forest and thick vegetation, the flora opens to grassy plains throughout the crater floor. The game viewing is truly incredible, and the topography and views of the surroundingÂ Crater Highlands further surpasses the beauty of this world. Accommodation facilities are located on the ridges of the crater.

This truly magical place is home to Olduvai Gorge, where the Leakeys 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 canyon just north of the crater, the Leakeys and their team of international archaeologists unearthed the ruins of at least three distinct hominoid species, and also came upon a complete series of hominoid footprints estimated 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, steeped 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 increasingly popular options. Either way you choose to visit, the Crater Highlands are an unforgettable part of the Tanzanian experience.