Ngorongoro Conservation Area: Tanzania’s Ngorongoro Crater is widely regarded as one of the most stunning spectacles in Africa, and rightly so. This location is renowned for having the highest density of wildlife in the whole of this great continent and is sometimes referred to as the ‘eighth wonder of the world’.
Often referred to as the ‘eighth natural wonder of the world’ the Ngorongoro Conservation Area combines some of the best wildlife and scenery the country has to offer with the culture of its Maasai inhabitants and the history of its archaeological sites.
The conservation area covers 8288 sq km, embracing the eastern half of the Serengeti Plains, highland plateaus, volcanic mountains, craters, and gorges, and is home to Ngorongoro Crater – the breathing central attraction.
The Ngorongoro Crater attracts quite a jaw-dropping amount of visitors each year thanks to its great wildlife viewing opportunities and genuinely mind-blowing environment. You can be fully assured that there is nowhere quite like the Ngorongoro Crater! Being a top destination, you can not go wrong in choosing Ngorongoro Crater as part of either Kenya and Tanzania Safaris or your Wildebeest Migration Safaris.
Why go on safari to Ngorongoro Crater
This magnificent location can be home to approximately 30’000 animals at any given time, and thanks to the crater’s multiple habitats, the diversity of the game here is second to none. One particular species that’s worth mentioning that you may encounter here is the endangered Black Rhino, as a small population of this beautiful animal is thriving in this idyllic and protected environment.
The crater floor consists of several different habitats that include grassland, swamps, forests, and Lake Makat (Maasai for ‘salt’) – a central soda lake filled by the Munge River. All these various environments attract wildlife to drink, wallow, graze, hide, or climb.
Although animals are free to move in and out of this contained environment, the rich volcanic soil, lush forests, and spring source lakes on the crater floor (combined with fairly steep crater sides) tend to incline both grazers and predators to remain throughout the year.
In addition to this, you can also expect to witness other captivating games on your visit to the Ngorongoro Crater, like flamingos, leopards, and lions! The Ngorongoro Crater neighbors the Serengeti National Park to the South and the Ndutu Conservation Area. We offer affordable and incredible Ngorongoro Crater Safaris from Arusha or Nairobi.
A population of about 30,000 large animals, including the highest density of mammalian predators in Africa, lives in the crater. These include black rhinos, which are usually very uncommon in the area. There are also wildebeest, zebra, eland, Grants and Thomson’s gazelles.
The crater has the densest known population of lions. On the crater rim are leopard, elephant, mountain reedbuck, and buffalo. Lake Magadi, filled by the Munge River in the center of the crater, is, like many in the rift valley, a soda lake supporting flocks of flamingos and a variety of other water birds.
More than 100 species of birds not found in the Serengeti have been found in the crater, including ostriches, kori bustards, secretary birds, and crowned cranes, as well as vultures, egrets, herons, and geese. The rainy season lasts from November through to May, with the dry season running from June through to October. June and July are the coldest months of the year. The rim of the crater is often shrouded in dense clouds that pour over the crater into the vastness below.
