The Ngorongoro Crater is one of Africa’s most famous sites
and is said to have the highest density of wildlife in Africa. A UNESCO
World Heritage Site located 180 km west of Arusha in the Crater Highlands area
of Tanzania. Sometimes described as an ‘eighth wonder of the world’, the Crater
has achieved world renown, attracting an ever-increasing number of visitors
each year. You are unlikely to escape other vehicles here, but you are
guaranteed great wildlife viewing in a genuinely mind-blowing
environment. There is nowhere else in Africa quite like Ngorongoro!
The Ngorongoro
Crater is the world’s largest intact volcanic caldera. Forming a
spectacular bowl of about 265 square kilometers, with sides up to 600 meters
deep; it is home to approximately 30,000 animals at any one time. The
Crater rim is over 2,200 meters high and experiences its own climate.
From this high vantage point it is possible to make out the tiny shapes of
animals making their way around the crater floor far below. Swathes of
cloud hang around the rocky rim most days of the year and it’s one of the few
places in Tanzania where it can get chilly at night.
The crater floor consists
of a number of different habitats that include grassland, swamps, forests and
Lake Makat (Maasai for ‘salt’) – a central soda lake filled by the Munge
River. 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.
WILDLIFE IN NGORONGORO
Ngorongoro Crater is one of the most likely areas in Tanzania
to see the endangered Black Rhino, as a small population is thriving in this
idyllic and protected environment. It is currently one of the few areas where
they continue to breed in the wild. Your chances of encountering Leopard here
are also good, and fabulous Black-maned Lions. Many Flamingos are also
attracted to the soda waters of Lake Magadi. Larger groups of Buffalos, Zebras
and Wildebeest are very common in the crater.
OLDUVAI GORGE
The Ngorongoro Conservation
Area also protects Olduvai Gorge, situated in the plains area. It is considered
to be the seat of humanity after the discovery of the earliest known specimens
of the human genus, Homo habilis as well as early hominidae, such as
Paranthropus boisei. The Olduvai Gorge or Oldupai Gorge is a steep-sided ravine
in the Great Rift Valley, which stretches along eastern Africa. Olduvai is in
the eastern Serengeti Plains in northern Tanzania and is about 30 miles long.
It lies in the rain shadow of the Ngorongoro highlands and is the driest part
of the region. The gorge is named after ‘Oldupaai’, the Maasai word for the
wild sisal plant, Sansevieria ehrenbergii.
MAASAI VILLAGE TRIPS
Part of the reason behind
the Ngorongoro Conservation Area has been to preserve the environment for the
Maasai people who were diverted from the Serengeti Plains. Essentially
nomadic people, they build temporary villages in circular homesteads called Bomas.
There are possibilities to visit a couple of these now, which have been opened
up for tourists to explore. Here you can see how the huts are built in a
strict pattern of order according to the chronological order of the wives, and
experience what it must be like to rely on warmth and energy from a fire
burning at the heart of a cattle dung dwelling with no chimney. These proud
cattle herding people have a great history as warriors, and even though they
are no longer allowed to build villages inside, they continue to herd their
cattle into the crater to graze and drink, regardless of the predators nearby.
THE SHIFTING SANDS
Beyond the Olduvai Gorge,
about 15 km northwest there is a remarkable volcanic ash known as the ‘shifting
sand’. It is believed and observed that this elegant black sand dune is
constantly being pushed by the Eastern winds and slowly inch by inch it moves
forward across the Ngorongoro crater’s plains. It has been estimated that
the Ngorongoro dune moves at about 17 meters per year. The volcanic ash it’s
believed to have being originated from the Mount Oldonyo Lengai volcanic
eruption. This mountain is an active volcanic mountain and its recent eruption
happened in the year 2007.
WHY VISIT NGORONGORO:
v All the Mammalian fauna essentially to the East African can be found in
the Ngorongoro crater
v Big migrations, an outstanding natural event on the plain in the west
and North
v Best Chances to see rhino in Tanzania
v Superb scenery, extending from plains to volcano
v An extremely popular park
WHAT TO DO:
v Game viewing in the crater
v Safaris in the crater’s highlands
v Walking to the museum
v Hiking with a guide – a good variety of trails
v Birds watching in the crater
v Cultural tourism with Maasai and Hadzabe tribes
v Archeological finding at Olduvai Gorge and shifting sand attraction
BEST TIME TO VISIT
v Since the wildlife mainly stays in the crater all year round, there is
really no good or bad time to visit. However, given that the crater floor
does get busy with vehicles, it can be more pleasant to visit during low
season. Higher water levels in Lake Magadi (in the center of the Crater)
also result in higher concentrations of flamingos. Whenever you visit to
Ngorongoro, you are guaranteed excellent safari action.
GETTING THERE:
v Easy drive from Arusha or Lake Manyara
v Scheduled and Charter flight
