Ngorongoro Crater Tanzania- Wildlife Safaris in Tanzania
Welcome to Visit ngorongoro crater in Tanzania , the official & authentic guide offering information about the fees and how to get there , what to see, guides.
The Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania is the largest unfilled inactive volcanic crater, or caldera, in the world. However, it’s not entirely empty as a wildlife spectacle unfolds in this dramatic setting. At the base of 610m cliff faces elephants trumpet, lions roar, and antelope…eat grass. The crater is arguably the best place in Tanzania to see the big five. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most mesmerizing natural features in the world.
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is a protected area and a World Heritage Site covers an area of 8,288 square kilometers and is located 180 km west of Arusha in the Crater Highlands area of Tanzania, Ngorongoro lies just 60 kms NW of Lake Manyara, 190 km W of Arusha and 145 km SE of The Serengeti. The area is named after Ngorongoro Crater, a large volcanic caldera within the area. This caldera is 18km wide and 1km deep, making it the largest in the world.
The Ngorongoro Crater is one of Africa’s most famous sites and has one of the highest densities of wildlife in Africa. The Crater has achieved world renown, attracting an ever-increasing number of visitors each year. You are unlikely to escape other vehicles here more so in the peak season, but you are guaranteed great wildlife viewing in a beautiful environment.
You now understand what all the hype is about, that Ngorongoro is ground zero for a millions-year-old volcano that blasted off like a rocket, was supplanted by a huge caldera and stuffed with more lions and rhinos and wildebeest than you could ever possibly imagine. You’re in.
But before you drop into the Ngorongoro Crater, here are ten essential factoids you should know. Cram these in your noggin before arriving and your awe for this place will quadruple, promise.
The crater floor consists of a number of different habitats that include grassland, swamps, forests and Lake Makat a central soda lake filled by the Munge River. The entrance to the conservation area is a thick forest made up of a mixture of Strangler Fig, Red Thorn Acacias and Rub Vines and shrubs which attract a variety of bird species. The crater floor is commonly known for its soda lake, Lake Magadi.
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. The conservation area is a habitat to about 30,000 large mammals, some of which include; Lion, Leopard, zebras, elephants, Buffalo and various antelope species. Primates like; Olive Baboons, Blue Monkeys and Bushbabies. Olduvai is famed for its fossil finds – about 150 species of prehistoric mammals including the Leakey’s discovery of 400 fragments of a skull. Discovery here began by accident back in 1911. Olduvai gains its name from the Masai word for the wild sisal that is prolific here.
The high numbers of herbivores supports the densest populations of predators found anywhere in Africa. The reliable presence of these predators has helped to make an Ngorongoro safari so popular. The Crater’s lion population varies significantly over time, the one constant being their complete disregard of vehicles; they will hunt within yards of a vehicle, and when exhausted even seek shade beside them. Spotted hyenas are even more common here, often competing with the lion, and there’s are a small but growing number of cheetah. Leopards are around, especially in the vicinity of the Lerai Forest. Side-striped and the lovely golden jackal are often seen skulking around, whilst bat-eared foxes are a rarer sight.