Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area

Ngorongoro Crater is located in Tanzania’s Ngorongoro Conservation Area which has over 20,000 large animals including some of Tanzania’s last remaining black rhinos, protected within its rim. Ngorongoro crater is also known as ‘the eighth wonder of the world’, a heritage center harbouring the most gorgeous wildlife ‘Shangri-la’ on earth. The Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area (NCA) covers some 8,300 sq. kms.

Nearly three million years ago Ngorongoro crater space needled parallel to Mount Kilimanjaro as one of the highest peaks in Africa. Later it tramped down during the turbulent birth of the Rift Valley. Its volcanic top erupted at the time that ancient man first walked the plains.

Rifts and volcanoes shaped the landscape of Ngorongoro causing lava or melted rock to penetrate to the surface where it hardened building up into a volcano. In the Ngorongoro crater Conservation Area, the main rifts are north of Lake Eyasi and east of Lakes Manyara and Lake Natron, where the nine volcanoes of Ngorongoro highlands were formed during the past four million years. Of these, only volcano Oldonyo Lengai is still active.

The ash and dust from the eruptions was carried by the wind to form the fertile soils of the Serengeti plains. Ngorongoro crater is also a pioneering experiment in multiple land use because it boasts the finest blend of landscapes, wildlife, people and archaeological sites in Africa. The concept of multiple land use in conservation perspective is a deviation from a traditional approach of regarding conservation as complete absenteeism of human interference.

Wildlife in Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area

Today, Ngorongoro’s caldera harbors the most ravishing wildlife haven on earth. The animals are not confined by the Crater walls, and can leave freely; they stay because conditions are favorable. Since most of the Crater floor is grassland, grazing animals predominate: gnu, zebra, gazelles, buffalo, eland and kongoni (Coke’s hartebeest) and warthogs.

The rich pasture and permanent water of the Crater floor supports a resident population of some 20,000 to 25,000 large mammals. The swamp and forest provide additional resources for hippos, some of Tanzania’s last remaining black rhinos, waterbucks, giant-tusked elephants, reedbucks and baboons, bushbucks, and vervets. The steep inner slopes provide a habitat for dikdiks and the rare mountain reedbuck.

Towering euphorbias adhere to the crater walls and on the floor. Fever tree and Fig tree forests give shade to an awe-inspiring array of creatures. All these animals in turn support large predators such as lions and leopards, and scavengers such as Hyenas and Jackals. For the best viewing and photography, approach the animals slowly and quietly and stay on the official tracks.

Birdlife in Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area

Birdlife safaris at Ngorongoro crater depend intensely on the season of the year, because there are inhabitant birds and migrant birds. You are certain to see many residents, like ostriches, bustards and plovers all year round. In the wet season they share the Crater with European migrants such as White Storks, swallows, Yellow Wagtails, etc. The migrants pass through from November through May, coinciding with the rains in Africa and the winter in Eurasia.

There are also local migrants such as flamingos, storks and ducks which come and go depending on the state of the lake and ponds. Other birds you can see are Stonechat, Schalow’s Wheatear, Anteater Chat, Fiscal Shrike. Augur Buzzards, Verreaux’s Eagle and other raptors live in the Crater.

Ngorongoro Crater safari lodges are established on the rim of the crater, which is 2,235 metres (7,264 feet) above sea level. It can get quite fresh up here, and gets very cold at night in the winter months of June to August, but is opposingly hot down in the crater during the day.

Rainy Season in Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area

It rains anytime from November to May, with the longer rains in April to May. The amount and pattern of rainfall varies and a dry period in January and February may split the rainy season into short and long rains. The forested eastern slopes get much more rain due to their elevation than the arid country to the west.

The rain arrives in stormy showers usually during afternoons and nights, which cleanses the air to reveal clear views. The weather is usually dry from June to November. July is the coldest month and highland temperatures may fall below freezing.

The Ngorongoro Crater Floor

Interpretive game drives through the emerald plains and forests of the crater floor engender guests with a respect for the people and wildlife of this world wonder. The dominant feature of the crater floor is Lake Magadi, a shallow soda lake that supports large flocks of flamingo. Much of the crater floor is open grassland, making animal spotting relatively easy: black rhino, lion, wildebeest hyena, gazelle, and zebra are all commonly seen.

Lodges and hotels around the Ngorongoro Crater .A sheer dirt road descends from Malanja Depression on the crater rim to the crater floor. At the top of the road, Masai women and children allow you to photograph them for a small fee. The hippo pool near Mandusi Swamp is a popular picnic spot. The Malanja depression is grassy open and is a good place to spot typical highland antelope such as mountain reedbuck and Kirks, dik-dik, and birds such as the striking auger buzzard and Schalows .