An Extinct Volcano Filled with Wildlife
Visiting Ngorongoro Crater (Ngorongoro conservation) is like stepping into an adventure movie: a sprawling, forested volcanic crater teeming with lions, cheetahs, and flamingoes! Stretched out before you in this near-perfect blue-green caldera resides the densest concentration of wildlife in Africa. You only have to descend the crater walls with your guide to enter one of the most extraordinary habitats on the continent.
It’s said the Ngorongoro Conservation Area is the best place to see all of the “Big Five”. Where else could you find the highest density of predators in Africa, plus giant tusker elephants and seas of fuchsia pink birds? The 25,000 large animals here, living in the world’s foremost, intact volcanic caldera have earned the accolades that come with the titles of World Heritage Site and Seven Natural Wonders of Africa.
Standing astride the 610m (2000 ft) crater rim, looking out over the lush expanse filling the 264 sq. km (101 sq. mi) crater you may get your first glimpses of the wildlife below – black rhino, hippo, buffalo, zebra, wildebeest, hyena, jackal and gazelle – grazing and stalking over the grasslands, acacia forests and swamps filling the crater floor.
It’s time to descend into this extraordinary Eden and begin a most exceptional day of discovery.
The Volcano – Life Begins
How did this seemingly magical place arise? Millions of years ago, a volcano about the size of Mt. Kilimanjaro rose in this spot. A violent eruption blew the top off, collapsing onto itself. The resulting immense crater is what remained. As crater-rim forests developed, their streams fed into the caldera creating springs, swamps, and woodland and attracting great populations of wildlife.
In your exploration of the different habitats in the crater, you’ll come across a large variety of animals. In the Lerai Forest look for baboons, vervet monkeys, waterbucks, and great tusker bull elephants. If you’re lucky you may spot an elusive leopard.
Lake Magadi attracts migratory flamingos in the rainy season. Ngoitoktok Springs is home to hippos and is an excellent picnic spot.
As with the crater’s terrestrial creatures, the birdlife here is profuse and varied. You’ll find avocet, egret, ostrich, wallow, grebe, firefinch, and starling. And especially be on the lookout for raptors like the marsh harrier, augur buzzard, tawny eagle, and white-backed vulture.
In this dynamic environment, the high crater walls have created their own eco-system, protecting the immense quantity of wildlife below. And though some animals do migrate, the vast majority live in the crater year-round.
Travel Guide
Ngorongoro is a Tanzanian must-see. The Ngorongoro Crater, a caldera or collapsed volcano, while only covering 260 km², includes a diverse range of habitats including montane forest, grasslands, acacia forests, a Salt Lake, and swamps. The diversity of the habitat provides a 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.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Incredible game spotting opportunities
- Diverse scenery and wonderful bird- and wildlife
- Densest population of Maasai Lion in the crater
- Home to the critically endangered black rhino
- Spectacular accommodation on the rim of the crater
- The fascinating archaeological site at nearby Olduvai Gorge
- Great place to meet and interact with the Maasai
While the Ngorongoro Conservation Area spans just over 8,000 km², the Ngorongoro Crater, the area’s most well-known feature, spans only 260 km². And it’s precisely its small size that makes it a Tanzanian must-see!
Being a caldera, or collapsed volcano, it has steep walls 610 m high, creating a bowl in which vast numbers of animal’s roam. Within this small area is a diverse range of habitats; montane forest on the rain-facing wall and grassland on the drier west wall. The floor is a vast grassland with a couple of acacia forests, salt-lake Lake Magadi, and Ngoitokitok Spring, which creates a swamp in the east of the crater.
Due to the diversity of the habitats on the crater floor and sides, an incredible number of different birds and animals, including the Big Five, call Ngorongoro Crater home and provide visitors with spectacular game viewing in gorgeous surroundings.
Around the rim of the crater are various accommodation establishments, mostly high-end, top-class luxury, that provides visitors with incredible views across the crater floor.
Animals of Ngorongoro
Within the Ngorongoro Crater, there is a huge concentration of wildlife, including the Big Five. Hippo, crocodile, zebra, a wide range of antelope, and plains game live here, too. Regular sightings of the critically endangered black rhino have been 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 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 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 visit Ngorongoro
The wildlife living in the crater itself are there all year, so from a game viewing point of view, it’s good all year. Due to its size, the area may get crowded during the peak tourist season which lasts most of the year, excluding April and May when major downpours make some of the roads hazardous and unpassable.
Getting there
By air – There are daily flights from Arusha to Lake Manyara Airstrip. From there, it’s a scenic, one-and-a-half-hour trip to the crater. Arusha is served by two airports. Domestic Arusha Airport has daily flights from numerous local destinations while Kilimanjaro International Airport has daily flights from local, African and international airlines.
By car – Ngorongoro is about 185 km from Arusha by road. Always consider Erideka Safaris Kenya for an amazing trip to Ngorongoro.
Tours & Safari
Breathtaking scenery and incredible game drives are the outstanding features of a visit to the Ngorongoro Crater. Despite its small area, it includes a diverse range of habitats and very concentrated animal populations, making it a spectacular safari destination.
Not only do the Big Five reside here, but they are also joined by a hippo, crocodile, zebra, a wide range of antelope, and smaller predators like serval, hyena, and jackal. It’s estimated that about 25,000 large animals live within this natural enclosure.
It is not only animals that delight Ngorongoro Crater visitors. There are also birds galore. The Salt Lake in the crater is home to hundreds of beautiful pink flamingos, birds of prey soar through the skies and comical ostriches wander the grasslands. Around 500 species of bird make Ngorongoro their home.
We have no scheduled safaris to Ngorongoro Crater but can include one on a tailor-made Tanzanian safari itinerary. We recommend spending at least 2 nights at Ngorongoro. Speak to us about your safari Wishlist and we’d be more than happy to design a custom safari to suit your budget and requirements.
Accommodation
Breathtaking scenery and incredible game drives are the outstanding features of a visit to the Ngorongoro Crater. Despite its small area, it includes a diverse range of habitats and very concentrated animal populations, making it a spectacular safari destination.
Not only do the Big Five reside here, but they are also joined by hippo, crocodile, zebra, a wide range of antelope, and smaller predators like serval, hyena, and jackal. It’s estimated that about 25,000 large animals live within this natural enclosure.
It is not only animals that delight Ngorongoro Crater visitors. There are also birds galore. The Salt Lake in the crater is home to hundreds of beautiful pink flamingos, birds of prey soar through the skies and comical ostriches wander the grasslands. Around 500 species of bird make Ngorongoro their home.
We have no scheduled safaris to Ngorongoro Crater but can include one on a tailor-made Tanzanian safari itinerary. We recommend spending at least 2 nights at Ngorongoro. Speak to us about your safari Wishlist and we’d be more than happy to design a custom safari to suit your budget and requirements.
