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Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Experience the wonders of nature's time capsule

Brief Information

Ngorongoro Crater is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a natural wonder located in Tanzania, East Africa. It is the world’s largest inactive and intact volcanic caldera, with a diameter of approximately 20 kilometers and a depth of 600 meters. The crater is home to over 25,000 large animals, including the “big five” (elephant, lion, leopard, buffalo, and rhinoceros) and is a unique and stunning destination for wildlife enthusiasts and nature lovers alike. The Ngorongoro Conservation Authority manages the area and works to preserve its ecological balance and cultural heritage.

Embark on an unforgettable journey

Getting There​

To get to Ngorongoro Conservation Area, visitors typically fly into Kilimanjaro International Airport in Tanzania and then take a connecting flight to Arusha or Lake Manyara airstrip. From there, it’s about a 2-3 hour drive to the entrance of the conservation area. Alternatively, visitors can take a bus or shuttle from Arusha to the town of Karatu, which is located near the conservation area. Once in Karatu, visitors can hire a taxi or arrange for a safari operator to take them into the conservation area. It’s important to note that visitors will need to obtain a permit to enter the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, which can be purchased at the entrance gate.

Climate

The weather in Ngorongoro Crater can vary depending on the time of year. Generally, the dry season from June to October offers mild temperatures during the day, with average highs of around 20-25°C (68-77°F), and cooler temperatures at night. This period also offers clear skies and minimal rainfall. The wet season from November to May can be unpredictable, with short bursts of rain or long periods of heavy rainfall. Temperatures during this season can be higher, with average highs of around 23-27°C (73-81°F), and the crater can be covered in mist, creating a mystical atmosphere. It’s important to note that due to its high elevation, the temperatures in Ngorongoro Crater can drop significantly at night, so visitors should bring warm clothing regardless of the season.

Attractions

Ngorongoro Conservation Area is a top destination in Tanzania for wildlife enthusiasts. It has over 26,000 big mammals and 500 bird species. Popular activities include game drives, birding, and nature walks. Visitors can also explore Maasai villages and tour scenic spots such as Olduvai Gorge and Empakaai Crater.

Diverse Wildlife

Our company proudly takes adventurous travelers on an unforgettable safari to the Ngorongoro Crater and Conservation Area, which attracts thousands of tourists to Tanzania each year. Here, visitors have the opportunity to witness Africa’s “big five” – lions, rhinos, leopards, elephants, and buffaloes – as well as a diverse range of other animals such as hippos, jackals, cheetahs, and crocodiles. With over 26,000 large mammals and 500 bird species calling this natural paradise home, there’s always something new and exciting to discover.

Endangered Rhino in Ngorongoro NCAA

Endangered Rhino in Ngorongoro NCAA

Elands

Hartebeests

zebras and wildebeests

Lions in Ngorongoro NCAA

Leopard and her cub

Cheetah

Hyena in ngorongoro ncaa

Diverse Wildlife

Explore Diverse Wildlife with Our Ngorongoro Safari Tours

Bird Life

Ngorongoro is not only a prime location for observing large mammals, but it’s also a haven for bird enthusiasts. With over 500 species of birds residing in both the highlands and crater of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, it’s no surprise that it’s considered an excellent birding area in Tanzania. Among the diverse bird population are annual migrant species that fly in from Europe and Asia between September and April, including the Lesser Kestrel, European Swallow, European Bee Eater, Northern Wheatear, European Roller, Pallid Harrier, Caspian Lapwing, and Montagus Harrier.

Ostriches

Guinea fowl

Pheasants, Partridges, Turkeys, Grouse

Ducks, Geese, Swans

Flamingos

Bird Life

Discovering the Diverse Birdlife of Ngorongoro Conservation Area

The Maasai herdsmen

The Maasai are a semi-nomadic ethnic group known for their distinctive customs, dress, and way of life. In Ngorongoro Crater, they are known for their traditional practice of cattle herding, which has been passed down for generations. Despite the restrictions on grazing within the conservation area, the Maasai continue to graze their livestock in the crater and surrounding areas, as it is an essential part of their culture and livelihood. Visitors to the crater have the opportunity to interact with the Maasai and learn more about their unique way of life.

The Maasai herdsmen

Experience the Authentic Maasai Culture and Livelihood

Activities

Amazing things to do in Serengeti National Park

Ngorongoro Conservation Area is a must-visit destination in Tanzania, attracting numerous tourists every year. With over 26,000 big mammals and 500 bird species, the area is a paradise for wildlife enthusiasts. Game drives, photographic safaris, birding, and nature walks are some of the popular activities in and around the Ngorongoro crater. Visitors can also explore the Maasai villages, experience hot air ballooning, tour Olduvai Gorge, hike to the summit of Gol Mountains and Oldoinyo Lengai, visit Empakaai Crater, Lerai Fever Tree Forest, Olmoti Crater, and Lake Magadi. With so many things to do and see, Ngorongoro Conservation Area offers a truly unforgettable experience.

Game Drives and wildlife viewing

Game drives are without doubt the best way to view wildlife in the Ngorongoro Crater. Game drives are done with a standard tour van and are organized in two shifts – morning and afternoon. By 4:30 pm, all tour vans must be out of the crater. You need at least three days to explore each and every part of the crater. On every safari, expect to see all the big 5 mammals, birds, lakes, lush forests and savanna vegetation to marvel at.

Game Drives

Abundance of wildlife

Game Drives and wildlife viewing

Experience the Thrill of a Lifetime

Photographic Safari

A Photographic Safari in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area is a unique experience that offers visitors the opportunity to capture stunning wildlife photographs in their natural habitat. The area is renowned for its vast array of wildlife, including the Big Five, and offers an excellent chance to see and photograph these magnificent creatures up close. Whether you’re a professional photographer or simply a nature lover, a Photographic Safari in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area is an unforgettable experience that should not be missed.

Photographic Safari

Capture the Beauty of African Wildlife

Visiting the Maasai

The Maasai people are a fascinating tribe, known for their unique culture and way of life. Even though they reside outside the Ngorongoro Crater, they are permitted to graze their livestock around the crater rim and even bring them down for water during the dry months. As part of a visit to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, tourists can arrange to visit a Maasai home or cultural center to gain insight into their customs and traditions. To have a more authentic experience, it is recommended to visit villages that are less frequently visited and avoid staged tours. Visiting the Maasai people offers the opportunity to witness traditional dance performances, take photographs, purchase souvenirs, and meet with the village elders.

Visiting the Maasai

Experience the vibrant Maasai culture

Visiting the Tanzania’s Last Bushmen

When the Maasai arrived in the Serengeti area about 300 years ago, they drive out the Hadzabe Tribe and other bushmen to remote areas of the park. Less than Attractions in Ngorongoro Conservation Area2000 of these Bushmen still live in the area. Unlike the Maasai who have embraced modern ways of living, these Bushmen remain primitive and still live off hunting and gathering. A tour of their remote habitats will allow you discover their culture and secret ways of living.

Visiting the Tanzania’s Last Bushmen

Uncover the Secret World of Tanzania's Bushmen in Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Enjoy Picnic Lunch

Have you ever thought about having a beautiful picnic lunch in the African wilderness with wildebeest grazing nearby? The Ngorongoro Crater will not disappoint

Enjoy Picnic Lunch

Nature and Crater View Walks

After completing activities down the crater and getting back to your lodge for a shower, you might want to take a stroll along the edges or rim of the crater. The western edge of the crater offers great views of the woodlands, open grasslands and acacia forests. You can also watch as the Maasai take their cattle for grazing or back to the kraals.

Nature and Crater View Walks

Hot Air Ballooning

This is an expensive but very adventurous way to explore the vast crater and surrounding areas. Hot air ballooning is highly recommended especially during the migration – when the wildebeest are roaming or calving outside the crater and the nearby Serengeti. The great thing about hot air ballooning is that it allows tourists to appreciate and enjoy the beautiful scenery within the crater.

Hot Air Ballooning

Hiking to the summit of the Gol Mountains

The Gol Mountains are found within Serengeti National Park. The slopes are excellent for wildlife viewing and cultural encounters with the resident Maasai Herdsmen. At the base of the Gol Mountains is the famous Nasera Rock where tourists can spot a variety of birds and hundreds of baboons. The Leakey family excavated remains of humans who lived there during the stone age period. The Gol Mountains will capture your imagination if your dream is to explore the remote African wilderness. After exploring the Gol Mountains, you can also choose to conquer an active volcano known as Oldoinyo Lengai.

Hiking to the summit of the Gol mountains

Visit Olduvai Gorge

The Olduvai Gorge is known as the “Cradle of Mankind”. It is where the oldest archaeological discoveries where made by Richard Leakey and his family. The Leakey’s discovered the remains of the very first hominids in Olduvai Gorge in the early 20th Century. They went on to make some groundbreaking discoveries with most of them older than 2 million years ago. The fossils include that of extinct animals that roamed the area and the more recent stone age man. You can register to be taken for a guided walk within the gorge. Do not forget to check out the hominid footprints in Laetoli. These footprints where discovered on a volcanic rock and are over 3 million years old. There is a small museum that was built for public viewing and contains excavated remains and artifacts for tourists to see.

Visit Olduvai Gorge

Visit the Empakaai Crater

This is the smaller sibling of the Ngorongoro Crater. The Empakaai Crater was also formed when a volcano collapsed into a 6-kilometer-wide caldera. It is a lesser known crater but with a lot to offer. Much of it is covered by a deep alkaline lake that is 85 meters deep. The lake changes color depending on the time of the day and attracts thousands of flamingos because of abundant algae. The rims of the crater are home to pink flamingos, blue monkeys, water bucks, bush bucks, buffaloes, elephants and hyenas. Beyond the crater are stunning views of Mount Kilimanjaro and Ol Doniyo Lengai

Visit the Empakaai Crater

Olmoti Crater

Among the Maasai, Olmoti means cooking pot. The shallow crater is found within the Ngorongoro conservation area highlands and stands at 3080 meters above sea level. The grassy hollows of the crater are excellent for hiking and nature walks. It is where most of the Maasai herdsmen take their domestic animals for grazing alongside buffaloes, bushbucks, eland and reedbuck. You can crown your tour of the Crater by visiting a nearby waterfall (100 meter) that feeds into Lake Magadi.

Olmoti Crater

Lake Magadi

If you are fascinated by beautiful scenery, nature and birds, then the shallow lake Magadi will not disappoint. This paradise attracts wading birds like pelicans and flamingos in the thousands. Lake Magadi is one of the best places for birding in Tanzania. Thousands of tourists visit Tanzania specifically to watch flamingos forage for green algae in the alkaline lake

Lake Magadi

Lerai Fever Tree Forest

Lerai Fever Tree Forest

Experience the ultimate wildlife adventure

Conclusion

Thank you for considering visiting the Ngorongoro Conservation Area with us at Glad Of Africa Safari & Tours. With its unparalleled wildlife, stunning landscapes, and unique cultural experiences, we believe that Ngorongoro is truly one of the most remarkable destinations in the world. From exhilarating game drives to unforgettable encounters with the Maasai people, our expertly crafted tours will take you on an adventure of a lifetime. Come explore the wonders of Ngorongoro with Safari Adventures and let us help you create memories that will last a lifetime.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Ngorongoro Conservation Area is a protected area in Tanzania that is home to a large number of wildlife species, including lions, rhinos, leopards, elephants, and buffalo.

The best time to visit Ngorongoro Conservation Area is during the dry season from June to September, when the wildlife is easier to spot and the weather is pleasant.
You can get to Ngorongoro Conservation Area by road or by air. If you are flying, you will need to fly into Kilimanjaro International Airport or Arusha Airport and then take a car or bus to the conservation area.
There are many activities to do in Ngorongoro Conservation Area, including game drives, photographic safaris, birding, and nature walks. Visitors can also visit Maasai villages, go hot air ballooning, tour Olduvai Gorge, hike to the summit of Gol Mountains and Oldoinyo Lengai, visit Empakaai Crater, Lerai Fever Tree Forest, Olmoti Crater, and Lake Magadi.
No, you cannot visit Ngorongoro Conservation Area without a guide. The area is a protected area, and visitors must be accompanied by a licensed guide at all times.
The Maasai are a semi-nomadic tribe known for their distinctive dress, customs, and traditions. They are significant in Ngorongoro Conservation Area because they are allowed to graze their animals around the crater rim or bring them down the crater for water during the dry months of the year. Visitors can arrange to visit Maasai villages and cultural centers to learn about their traditions and culture.
Yes, it is generally safe to visit Ngorongoro Conservation Area. However, visitors should be aware of the potential risks associated with wildlife encounters and should follow the guidance of their guides at all times. It is also recommended to check the travel advisories issued by your government before traveling to Tanzania.
Yes, there are several lodges and campsites within Ngorongoro Conservation Area where visitors can stay overnight. Reservations are recommended, especially during peak travel seasons.

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