Ngorongoro crater is the worlds largest, in broken, intact and inactive volcanic caldera in the world. Its known as Africa’s Garden of Eden and was dabbed as the Ngorongoro by the local Masai people this is to mean “gift of life”.
Ngorongoro crater is 64 kilometers wide and 264 kilometers squared, its also been recognized by UNESCO as a world heritage site. The crater is known to harbor the highest concentration of elephants in the whole world.
Ngorongoro crater conservation Area is one of Africa’s seven natural wonders and it was established as a national Park in 1959 covering an area of 8,292 kilometers squared. The crater was formed a million years ago when a volcano collapsed on itself forming an inactive crater.
Explore wildlife
Ngorongoro crater is filled with over 25,00 animals some of which include; lions, zebras, elephants, black rhinos, wildebeests, buffalos, cheetahs, hippopotamus, warthogs, water bucks, giraffes, klipspringers, impalas and many more the best time for wildlife watching is in the dry season when the vegetation is thin and wildlife is very visible.
Cultural experience
Visit the Masai people whose villages can easily be recognized when driving in the park, the Masai displaced the hunter gathering tribes that lived in the Ngorongoro and Serengeti areas in 1800s. The nomadic pastoralists are well known by tourists all over east Africa because they sty in areas surrounding national parks. They have very unique ways of lives and culture untouched by modernity.
Oldupai Museum
Oldupai museum is found in Olduvai George where the remains of the oldest remains of humans were excavated its one of the most significant places on earth.
Laetoli
This is a 27 meter long trail found 45 kilometers south of Oldupai George, its also an important archeological site where the 3.7 million year hominid foot prints are found.
Birding
Ngorongoro crater also boasts as a birders destinations in Tanzania, this is the reason bird enthusiasts make it one of their destinations the park is endowed with over 400 species of birds some of the example include; Livingstone’s turaco, northern anteater chat, scarlet chested sun bird, Augur buzzard, capped wheatear, Hartlaubs turaco, Kori bustard, Namaqua dove, verreaux eagle and white eyed slaty fly catcher among others. The best time for bird watching is from November to April when migratory birds are available.
Lake Magadi
Lake Magadi a saline alkaline lake found within Ngorongoro and one of the places people visit, the lake harbors thousands of flamingoes and wading birds, the lake covers a surface area of 100 kilometers squared.
Ngoitokitok springs
Ngoitokitok springs is a scenic are in Ngorongoro the springs form up a small lake known as hippo pool near Gorgio swamp, tourists can have a picnic lunch here and enjoy views of Zebras ,hippopotamus, elephants, warthogs, gazelles, vervet monkeys and birds like crowned crane and fish eagles.
The best time for visiting Ngorongoro crater is in the dry season when wildlife can easily be spotted and the roads to the park are accessible and in good condition. Thought the wet season is also favorable for seeing migratory birds and wildlife as well.
Tourists visiting Ngorongoro crater can select from various accommodation units ranging from luxurious hotels to budget lodges some of the accommodation in the park include; Lake Ndutu luxury tented camp, Ngorongoro Serena safari lodge, Aag’ata migration Ndutu camp, Ngorongoro sopa lodge and Ngorongoro forest lodge among others.
