Ngorongoro Conservation Area
OVERVIEW
Set out on an enthralling tour to Tanzania’s magnificent landscapes and the wildlife-filled Ngorongoro Crater. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Ngorongoro Crater is well-known for its extraordinary biodiversity and breathtaking landscape. Explore a vibrant environment within an old volcanic crater, surrounded by vast plains and lush woods, and home to lions, elephants, buffalo, and rhinos. Discover the crater’s depths to see a variety of animals, including towering predators and elegant antelopes, in their native habitat. Marvel at the profusion of life in this exceptional and protected refuge as you observe the interesting relationships between species.
Discover the mysteries of Ngorongoro and take in the unadulterated splendor of Tanzania’s animal-rich landscapes with us in one of Africa’s most alluring locations. On this voyage, one can expect to have life-changing experiences and develop a greater respect for nature’s beauty.
NGORONGORO CONSERVATION AREA
The Ngorongoro Crater is the biggest intact volcanic caldera on Earth. Situated almost 2,200 meters above sea level, the Crater Rim experiences a variety of weather patterns. From this angle, you can see the small animal shadows moving around the crater floor. Rocky Rim is one of the few places in Tanzania where nighttime lows can drop below freezing. The deep volcanic crater at the top of Mount Ngorongoro is the world’s largest intact and undulating caldera. The world’s largest natural wonder, the Ngorongoro Crater, spans 300 square kilometers, has a diameter of 20 kilometers, and descends 600 meters.
Largely situated in northern Tanzania, to the southeast of Serengeti National Park, lies the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Over an area of around 8,300 square kilometers, the Eastern (Great) Rift Valley is home to a variety of habitat types, including forests, grasslands, and wetlands that mimic forests. It also features steep terrain with lakes, rivers, and swamps that resemble craters. One of the world’s largest preserved calderas, Ngorongoro Crater is the centerpiece of the park. At the archeological sites of Olduvai Gorge and Laetolil, remains of hominins dating back 2.1 million and 3.6 million years, respectively, have been discovered.
In 1959, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area became its own independent entity after being a part of the Serengeti National Park for a while. In 1979, it was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Over 24,000 Masai graze their cattle in this area, which is off-limits to farming. In the later half of the 20th century, poaching of black rhinoceroses, leopards, and elephants became a major issue due to the damage that overgrazing and tourist vehicles were causing to the environment.
