A Complete Travel Guide to Ngorongoro Conservation Area

The Ngorongoro Conservation Area, situated in Northern Tanzania, is renowned for its stunning landscapes and rich biodiversity, making it a valuable asset to East Africa and Tanzania. This UNESCO World Heritage Site offers guests a unique opportunity to intimately experience the awe-inspiring African nature, celebrating the wonders of nature. This comprehensive guide provides full information about Ngorongoro Conservation Area, encompassing its geographical location, diverse range of activities, captivating features, optimal time for visiting, various transportation alternatives, and the array of housing choices accessible.

The Ngorongoro Conservation Area located in northern Tanzania, about 180 km (112 miles) west of the busy city of Arusha, which is a popular starting point for safaris. Over its more than 8,000 square kilometers (3,100 square miles), the Ngorongoro Conservation Area includes the Crater and a wide variety of ecosystems, from verdant forests to vast grasslands.

The Ngorongoro Conservation Area spreads on vast expanses of the high land plains, savanna, savanna woodlands and forests adjacent from the plains of Serengeti National Park in the North West and the Eastern arm of the Great Rift Valley. Ngorongoro Conservation Area is part of the large Serengeti ecosystem. Ngorongoro Conservation Area harbors a stunning landscape with spectacular concentration of wildlife which has remarkably remained one of the greatest natural wonders to see in the planet.

Ngorongoro Conservation Area is also part of the annual wildebeest migration with  More than one million ungulates passing through the Conservation Area across to the Serengeti ecosystem. The annual migration of wildebeest and zebras in the Area is one of the  unaltered natural mammal migration in the world. Ngorongoro Conservation Area is a protected UNESCO World Heritage Site that was established in 1959. The area has been subjected to extensive archeological research for over 80 years which has yielded a long sequence of evidence of human evolution with human environment dynamics that extend from over four million years to the early modern era.

Ngorongoro Conservation Area was name after the Ngorongoro Crater, a large volcanic caldera within the area. Ngorogoro Crater is the world’s largest inactive, intact and unfilled volcanic caldera.

Ngorongoro Crater

The Crater formed as a result of a large volcanic explosion two or three million years ago. Ngorongoro Crater has a great depth of about 610 meters with its floor covering about 260 square Kilometers. The continued similar eruptions like those that led to the formation of Ngorongoro Crater also led to the formation of Olmoti and Empakaai Craters but smaller in magnitude. Grab a chance to see the largest Crater in the world and one of the seven new natural wonders of Africa.

Ngorongoro crater is exceptional with high wildlife concentration including all the big five. An estimated 25,000 animals and hundreds of birds live on the crater floor including the lions, black rhino, wildebeest, zebra, Thomson’s and Grant’s gazelle, elephants, and giraffe.

The Crater rim offers a great chance to spot the herds journey across the base in long columns and when an eye is kept wide open there is a great chance to spot rhinos in the bushes and the old bull elephants with long majestic tusks around the Gorigor Swamp.

The leopards however lurk in the lerai forest and the lion prides on the plains. To the northern part of the Crater is the Olmoti volcano which offers a chance to view wildlife in abundance with animals such as the buffalo, zebra, and the hyena. On your trip to Ngorongoro Conservation Area, a hike down to the Empakaai Crater is preferable with it offering a great chance to view the thousands of pink flamingoes around the edge of the soda lake.

How to Reach the Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Ngorongoro Conservation Area is accessible via various transportation options, including:

By Air: The nearest international airport is Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), located approximately 190 kilometers (118 miles) from the park. From there, visitors can take a domestic flight to Arusha Airport or Lake Manyara Airstrip, both of which are within driving distance of the park.

By Road: Visitors can reach Ngorongoro Conservation Area by road from major cities and towns in Tanzania, such as Arusha and Moshi. The park is approximately a 3 to 4-hour drive from Arusha, with well-maintained roads leading to the park entrance.

By Organized Safari: Many tour operators offer organized safari packages that include transportation to and from Ngorongoro Conservation Area. These safaris typically depart from Arusha and may include accommodations, meals, and guided activities.

From cultural immersion to Wildlife game drives, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area boasts enough to suit every kind of traveler. Most people enjoy doing the following:

Game Drives.

In the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, you can watch the Big Five: rhinoceros, lions, elephants, and buffalo. So, brace yourself for an exhilarating game drive across the vast grasslands. The crater’s one-of-a-kind ecosystem makes it an ideal spot to see wildlife. Undoubtedly, embarking on a game drive is the ultimate method to witness the abundant animals in the Ngorongoro Crater.

A conventional tour van or Jeep is employed for game drives which are always done in the Crater floor, which are organized in two distinct periods: morning and afternoon. Each tour vehicle must depart from the crater by 4:30 pm. Exploring the entire Ngorongoro crater will require a minimum of three days.

Guided Walking Safaris

The guided walking safaris of the park let those looking for a more intimate safari experience benefit from Walking around the park with informed rangers, visitors may learn about the native flora and fauna by getting up close and personal with the small Savannah occupants.

Cultural Visits

Visit a traditional Maasai hamlet to learn more about the Maasai people’s rich cultural heritage. Experience the captivating traditional dances of the Maasai people, engage in cultural interactions, and learn about long-standing customs.

When the Maasai people arrived around 300 years ago, they compelled the Hadzabe Tribe and other bushmen to relocate to more secluded areas of the Serengeti. Approximately 2,000 indigenous Bushmen continue to live in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. In contrast to the more civilized Maasai, these Bushmen are as primitive as they come, surviving primarily on hunting and gathering. A journey of their far-flung regions reveals their hidden ways of living and interesting culture.

Bird-watching.

Ngorongoro National Park is a birdwatcher’s paradise, with over 500 bird species such as flamingos, ostriches, and a variety of raptors. Birdwatchers can participate in guided birding tours to witness some of Africa’s most vivid and secretive bird species.

Photography Safaris.

Both nature lovers and animal loverscan find lots of picture chances in Ngorongoro National Park because to its gorgeous surroundings and diverse species. Under the direction of experienced guides, professional photography safaris teach attendees composition techniques and where to locate the best wildlife to capture.

If your prior game drive experience at the Ngorongoro Crater was enjoyable, you can organize an additional safari solely to get breathtaking wildlife photographs. Birds, lakes, and savanna flora are as significant as animals on a photographic safari. Near the crater, you may come across several friendly Maasai tribesmen who would be interested in joining your photography expedition.

Visit Olduvai Gorge.

Legend has it that the “Cradle of Mankind” was actually the Olduvai Gorge. Richard Leakey and his family made the earliest archeological finds there. Initial evidence of hominins was found in Olduvai Gorge in the early 1900s by the Leakey family. Most of the discoveries they made were older than 2 million years, yet they still managed to make several remarkable ones.

There are artifacts from both long-gone creatures that once lived in the region and from more recent times, such as stone age humans. A guided walk around the gorge can be arranged if you so desire. Make sure you visit Laetoli to see the hominid footprints. The age of these imprints, which were found on a volcanic rock, exceeds three million years. Visitors can observe artifacts and relics from the site’s excavations in a little museum that was opened to the public.

Explore Lake Magadi.

The minuscule lake Magadi will captivate those who appreciate the majesty of nature, wildlife, and picturesque landscapes. This sanctuary is home to an immense number of wading species, such as pelicans and flamingos. Lake Magadi is a must-see destination in Tanzania for birdwatching enthusiasts. Flamingos are a well-known tourist attraction in Tanzania, attracting thousands of visitors annually to the alkaline lake to feed on green vegetation.

Visit the Empakaai Crater

The Ngorongoro Crater is somewhat smaller than its bigger brother. About six kilometers wide, another caldera created by a volcano’s collapse is the Empakaai Crater. Though hardly known, this crater has a great impact. Mostly it is covered by an 85-meter-deep alkaline lake. The lake’s algae abundance causes its hue to change during the day, which attracts hundreds of flamingos. Among the several species that call the crater walls home are hyenas, buffalo, water bucks, bushbucks, blue monkeys, and pink flamingos. Past the crater lie Ol Doniyo Lengai and Mount Kilimanjaro.

Hike the Gol Mountains

The Gol Mountains grow out of Serengeti National Park. On the hills, you may encounter native Maasai herdsmen and other wildlife.

You may also learn about their way of life. The famous Nasera Rock, at the base of the Gol Mountains, boasts hundreds of baboons as well as a range of birds. The Leakey family turned up Stone Age human relics. The Gol Mountains will enthrall everyone who wishes to travel across unexplored African ground. After you tour the Gol Mountains, another choice to challenge is Oldoinyo Lengai, an active volcano.

Visit Olmoti Crater

Olmoti is the Maasai term that refers to a cooking vessel often known as a “pot”. The Ngorongoro conservation area highlands have a shallow crater situated at an altitude of 3,080 meters above sea level. Explorers and enthusiasts of the outdoors will thoroughly enjoy venturing into the verdant depressions of the crater. Domestic animals frequently graze alongside wild buffalo, bushbuck, eland, and reedbuck in the presence of Maasai herders. The Crater trip culminates with a 100-meter waterfall cascading into Lake Magadi.

When you should visit Ngorongoro Conservation Area is mostly up to you and what you want to see. On the other hand, most people think that the months of June through October are the ideal for wildlife viewing because most animals congregate around water sources. Also, if you enjoy bird-watching, you’re in luck because the region attracts migrating birds in January and February.

Between June and October is always a dry season and the vegetation in the Crater becomes less dense making wildlife spotting much easier since large numbers of animals gather near the water source. The dryer days in this period make the Conservation Area much more accessible. The major animals that can be spotted during the periods include the big cats and most animals in this period can be seen clustering around the permanent water sources and thus the greater time for animal sighting.

The temperatures during this period are however not too hot with maximum temperatures reaching up to 20ºC and also tend to be dusty and the sun makes photographing easier and more beautiful.

Accommodation in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Ngorongoro Conservation Area offers a range of accommodation options to suit every budget and preference, from luxury lodges to tented camps. Some of the popular accommodation choices within the park include:

Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge

Situated on the rim of the crater, this luxurious lodge offers stunning panoramic views of the crater below. Guests can enjoy spacious rooms, gourmet dining, and guided safari excursions led by experienced naturalists.

Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge.

Nestled amidst the acacia trees on the eastern rim of the crater, this lodge provides a serene retreat for travellers seeking comfort and convenience. The lodge features cozy guest rooms, a swimming pool, and an open-air terrace overlooking the crater.

Ngorongoro Wildlife Lodge: Perched on the rim of the crater, this lodge offers unparalleled access to the wildlife-rich crater floor. Guests can relax in well-appointed rooms, savor delicious meals at the on-site restaurant, and embark on guided safari adventures in the park.

Public Campsites: For budget-conscious travellers, public campsites are available within the park, offering basic amenities such as toilets and showers. Campers can enjoy the thrill of sleeping under the stars while immersing themselves in the sights and sounds of the African wilderness.