Destinations | Ngorongoro Conservation Area
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area boasts the finest blend of landscapes, wildlife, people and archaeological sites in Africa. Often called "African Eden" and the "eighth wonder of the natural world".
The first view of the Ngorongoro Crater takes the breath away. Ngorongoro is a huge caldera, or collapsed volcano, 250 square Km. in size and 600 meters deep. Its spectacular setting and abundance of wildlife combine to make it one of the wonders of the natural world. Ngorongoro contains possibly the largest permanent concentration of wildlife in Africa, with an estimated average of 30,000 large mammals. In addition, this is one of the best reserves in Africa in which to see Black Rhino.No fences or boundaries border the crater walls - animals are free to enter or leave the crater, but many of them stay for the plentiful water and grazing available on the crater floor throughout the year.
Open grassland covers most of the crater floor, turning yellow with wild flowers in June. The soda lake Makat is a great attraction for Flamingos and other water birds, while predators hide to ambush animals that come to drink from the river that feeds the lake. Also on the crater floor are swamps, providing water and habitat for Elephant and Hippo as well as numerous smaller creatures such as frogs, snakes and Serval Cats. Game viewing around Lake Makat is especially rewarding - large antelope like Zebra and Gazelle come to drink, while herds of Hippo sun themselves in the thick lakeshore mud.
The Lerai forest on the crater floor gets its name from the Maasai word for the elegant yellow-barked acacia tree. Elephants often graze in the forest shade during midday, emerging into the open plains during the early hours of morning and in the evening, as the midday heat abates. The small forest patches on the crater floor are home to Leopard, Monkey, Baboon, and antelope such as Waterbuck and Bushbuck.
About Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area:
Ngorongoro Crater itself is but a small portion of the 3,200 square 8,288 km Ngorongoro Conservation Area, a World Heritage Site that is characterize by a highland plateau with volcanic mountains as well as several craters, extensive savannah and forests. Altitudes range from 1,350 to 3,600 m.
Getting there:
Ngorongoro Crater is 190km west of Arusha.
What to do:
Game viewing, Photography ,Hiking (Conservation Area)
When to go:
Whole Year.