Ngorongoro Conservation Area

The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is one of the natural wonders of the world, with amazing scenery and plenty of wildlife. Once you see its varied landscapes and sheer size, it's easy to understand why people love it.

At its center is the Ngorongoro Crater, one of the largest calderas in the world. It's believed that before the volcano erupted, it stood higher than Mount Kilimanjaro, which today is the highest peak in Africa.

The vegetation is varied, from lush green plants fed by the rain to dry-country plants. You'll find semi-arid plants, wild marsh vegetation, highland forest and lots of short grass where animals graze.

The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is home to more than 25,000 large animals and 400 bird species. There are a lot of predators, including lions, hyenas, jackals, cheetahs and leopards. The crater is full of zebras, buffaloes, warthogs, elephants, flamingos, ostriches and hippos.

The area also includes Olduvai Gorge, often called the cradle of mankind, because some of the earliest known human remains were found here.

Besides the scenery and the exciting game viewing, you can also meet the Maasai people, who live throughout the area.

Best Time to Visit

• Dry Season (June to October): Best for wildlife viewing, as animals gather near water.
• Wet Season (November to May): Green landscapes and very good birdwatching. The calving season runs from January to March.

Activities To Do

Here are a few of the things you can do during your visit to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area:

• Game drives
• Walking safaris
• Camping
• A visit to the shifting sands
• A visit to the Olduvai Gorge Museum
• Maasai cultural tour

What to See

The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is one of the best places in Africa to see many kinds of animals in a small area.

Big Cats

• Lions: Ngorongoro has one of the highest densities of lions in the world.
• Leopards: Harder to find, but often seen near the forest edges.
• Cheetahs: Best seen on the open plains outside the crater.

Black Rhino

Ngorongoro is one of the few places in East Africa where you have a good chance of seeing a black rhino in the wild.

Elephants

Ngorongoro's elephants are known for their big tusks, which are said to reflect the rich minerals in the area.

Plains Game

• Wildebeest
• Zebras
• Gazelles
• Impalas

Birdlife

With more than 500 bird species, Ngorongoro is a great place for birdwatchers.

How To Get There

Safari Van:

Ngorongoro is 160 km from Arusha, a drive of 2-3 hours, and 140 km from the Seronera area of Serengeti National Park. The road is rough, so expect a bumpy ride. You can also get to the Ngorongoro Crater by shuttle van or taxi.

Flight:

You can fly to Kilimanjaro International Airport or Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam, then take a direct flight to the Ngorongoro airstrip.