Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Nestled within Ngorongoro District, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area spans an impressive 8,292 square kilometers and teems with life. Home to over 25,000 large mammals and 550 bird species, this breathtaking reserve is a true gem in Tanzania’s wildlife crown.

Originally part of the Serengeti National Park, the area was carved out as a separate conservation zone in 1959. Recognizing its extraordinary ecological and historical value, UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site in 1979. The region is dotted with nine craters, including Keramasi, Empakaai, Lolmalasin, Losirua, Olmoti, Ngorongoro, Oldean, Loroklukunya, Sadiman, and Makaruti, each adding its own touch to the rugged landscape.

The showstopper of the conservation area is Ngorongoro Crater, the world’s largest unbroken, unfilled volcanic caldera. This natural wonder acts as a wildlife haven, where predators and prey live side by side, making it a safari paradise like no other.

Beyond its wildlife, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area also safeguards the legendary Oldupai (Olduvai) Gorge, often dubbed the “Cradle of Mankind.” This historic site is where some of the earliest human fossils were unearthed, offering a glimpse into the dawn of humanity.

Adding to the drama of the landscape, the great wildebeest migration thunders across the plains, with thousands of animals hot on the trail of fresh grazing grounds. This spectacle of survival, one of nature’s greatest performances, showcases the raw beauty and relentless rhythm of life in the African wilderness.

How to get there?

The Ngorongoro Conservation Area lies approximately 185 kilometers from Arusha and around 230 kilometers from Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO). Traveling by road, it takes roughly three hours from Arusha and about five hours from Kilimanjaro International Airport to reach the area.

For those preferring air travel, chartered flights are available from Arusha or Kilimanjaro International Airport to Lake Manyara Airstrip. From there, a scenic drive through the Rift Valley leads to Ngorongoro.

When to go?

The best time to explore the Ngorongoro Conservation Area largely depends on what you hope to experience. However, the dry seasons, which extend from December to March and June to September, offer optimal conditions for wildlife viewing.

During these months, the vegetation is sparse, making it easier to spot animals as they roam the open plains. Additionally, with fewer water sources available, wildlife tends to gather around the remaining watering holes, creating prime opportunities for tourists to observe a diverse array of species in one location. From predators like lions and hyenas to herbivores such as zebras, wildebeests, and elephants, sightings are almost guaranteed.

Moreover, the weather is generally pleasant, with sunny days and cooler nights, making it an excellent period for game drives, crater tours, and outdoor excursions. Whether you’re a seasoned safari-goer or a first-time visitor, traveling during the dry season ensures a more comfortable and rewarding experience in this world-renowned wildlife haven.

Key attractions to see in Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

Wildlife.

The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is renowned for its incredible array of wildlife, earning its reputation as one of Africa’s most spectacular safari destinations. This conservation haven is home to the iconic Big Five – lions, elephants, leopards, buffaloes, and rhinos – which roam the diverse ecosystems, including grasslands, forests, and swamps. The Ngorongoro Crater, in particular, boasts an impressive density of lions, with large prides frequently spotted lounging in the sun or hunting in groups. Large, old bull elephants, some with impressive tusks, can be found near swamps and wooded areas, while elusive leopards inhabit the forests along the crater rim, often seen during early morning or late evening drives. Buffaloes and black rhinos, though endangered, can also be spotted grazing in the open plains and near waterholes, and roaming the crater floor, respectively.

Beyond the Big Five, the conservation area is inhabited by a diverse range of herbivores and grazing animals, including zebras, wildebeests, giraffes, elands, antelopes, and hippos. Thousands of wildebeests migrate through Ngorongoro as part of the Great Migration, particularly during the calving season from December to March. Predators and scavengers, such as spotted hyenas, jackals, and various species of big cats, also roam the plains, showcasing the area’s complex and fascinating food chain.

The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is also a birdwatcher’s paradise, with over 500 species of birds documented within the area. The skies are filled with eagles, vultures, and hawks, while the grasslands and forests are home to a stunning array of birdlife, including ostriches, secretary birds, and Kori bustards. The area’s wetlands and lakes also attract a variety of water birds, such as flamingos, pelicans, and storks, making Ngorongoro a true haven for bird enthusiasts.

Ngorongoro crater

The Ngorongoro Crater is one of the world’s largest intact volcanic calderas, offering breathtaking landscapes and a thriving ecosystem. It spans approximately 20 kilometers in diameter, covers an area of about 300 square kilometers, and has a depth of 600 meters. The crater sits at an altitude of 1,800 meters above sea level, creating a unique microclimate that supports diverse wildlife.

Formed around three million years ago, the crater resulted from the collapse of a massive volcano that once stood at an estimated height of 4,587 meters above sea level. Today, this natural enclosure is a haven for wildlife, hosting an abundance of species, including the iconic Big Five—lions, elephants, leopards, buffaloes, and black rhinos. In addition, the crater is a paradise for birdwatchers, with more than 500 bird species recorded within its boundaries.

This spectacular destination is often referred to as Africa’s Eden, offering visitors a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to witness nature at its finest.

Olduvia gorge

Olduvai Gorge is an important archaeological site located about 40 kilometers northwest of the Ngorongoro Crater. Stretching approximately 50 kilometers in length and reaching depths of up to 90 meters, it is renowned for its rich history of human evolution.

The site gained fame through the excavations of Dr. Louis Leakey and his wife, Mary Leakey, who uncovered significant evidence of early human ancestors. Among their discoveries were stone tools and fossils, providing valuable insights into prehistoric life. Visitors can explore a museum at the site, where they can view these findings and learn more about the history of human evolution.

Lake Magadi

Lake Magadi is a shallow alkaline lake situated to the southwest of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. It is frequently home to large flocks of flamingos, primarily lesser flamingos.

The shores of the lake provide an excellent opportunity to spot golden jackals, which often prey on the flamingos. Other wildlife commonly seen in the area includes lions, rhinos, hippos, elands, and Grant’s gazelles.

Olmoti crater

Olmoti is an extinct volcano with a forested rim that reaches an altitude of 3,099 meters, located just north of Ngorongoro. Its name, “Olmoti,” meaning “Cooking Pot” in Maasai, describes its shallow crater.

The crater’s grassy floor is home to wildlife such as elands and bushbucks, alongside Maasai herders and their livestock. On the southern edge of the crater, a stunning waterfall cascades down, forming the Munge Stream, which flows into Lake Magadi on the Ngorongoro floor.

Empakai crater

Nestled beneath the active peak of Ol Doinyo Lengai, the Empakaai Crater is a breathtaking sight, though its secluded location means it remains largely unexplored by tourists. This volcanic caldera, measuring 6 kilometers in diameter and plunging 300 meters deep, is defined by a striking emerald-green soda lake that draws a variety of waterbirds.

The crater’s 32-kilometer-long rim offers excellent hiking opportunities, with panoramic views and chances to spot wildlife such as blue monkeys, buffalo, bushbucks, and other forest-dwelling species.

Ndutu plains

Nestled beneath the active peak of Ol Doinyo Lengai, the Empakaai Crater is a breathtaking sight, though its secluded location means it remains largely unexplored by tourists. This volcanic caldera, measuring 6 kilometers in diameter and plunging 300 meters deep, is defined by a striking emerald-green soda lake that draws a variety of waterbirds.

The crater’s 32-kilometer-long rim offers excellent hiking opportunities, with panoramic views and chances to spot wildlife such as blue monkeys, buffalo, bushbucks, and other forest-dwelling species.

Laetoli footprints

Laetoli is a significant paleontological site in Africa, situated on the southern border of the Serengeti Plains within the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, far to the north of Lake Eyasi.

This site features an extensive sequence of Plio-Pleistocene volcanic and sedimentary deposits that are abundant in archaeological and fossilized remains. These layers rest atop ancient Precambrian metamorphic rocks.

Ol kerian gorge

With its steep, rocky cliffs, the gorge provides a vital nesting site for a large colony of Rüppell’s griffon vultures. This is one of the few remaining breeding grounds for these majestic birds, which are the most prevalent vultures in the Serengeti. They glide effortlessly above the gorge, patiently awaiting rising thermals to lift them high over the vast Serengeti plains.

Nasera rock

A towering gneiss inselberg, a massive granite monolith rising approximately 100 meters high, stands near the northern boundary of the conservation area, at the edge of the Gol Mountains. This site is renowned for its archaeological discoveries, including numerous stone tools rich in quartz and obsidian, as well as bone fragments and pottery shards dating back as far as 30,000 years. Faint and weathered rock paintings can also be found here, though they are barely discernible except to specialists in rock art.

The surrounding plains are frequented by roaming wildebeest, while baboons scale the rocky slopes, and an array of bird species thrives in the area. The best time to visit is between December and May, though guided tours are available throughout the year.

Mumba rock shelter

Mumba is a vast rock shelter nestled beneath a massive outcrop of metamorphic gneiss, located at 35°17’47″E, 3°32’26″S, near the northeastern shores of Lake Eyasi. It holds one of the most significant and well-preserved archaeological sequences, playing a crucial role in understanding the Late Pleistocene prehistory of East Africa.

Artifacts uncovered from the site provide clear evidence of the transition from the Middle Stone Age to the Later Stone Age. Within the shelter floor, an approximately 11-meter (36-foot) thick sediment layer preserves traces of hominid and human occupation, dating back at least 130,000 years.

Ngorongoro Northern highland forest reserve.

The Northern Highland Forest Reserve (NHFR) is a dense and lush forest teeming with natural wonders, including the breathtaking Endoro Waterfalls and the intriguing Elephant Caves. It is home to diverse flora and a rich assortment of bird species, such as turacos, robin chats, bee-eaters, honey guides, warblers, flycatchers, weavers, sunbirds, buzzards, cuckoos, hornbills, bulbuls, and guinea fowl, among many others.

Mount Lolmalasin.

Mount Lolmalasin is the tallest crater mountain in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and ranks as the third-highest mountain in Tanzania. It is also the second-highest peak in the Arusha region, surpassed only by Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru, with an elevation of approximately 3,700 meters (12,080 feet) above sea level.

Situated near the Olmoti Crater along the route to Empakaai Crater on the eastern boundary of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, the mountain is entirely within Nainokanoka Ward.

Gol Mountains

Northwest of the Ngorongoro Highlands, the ancient pink granite cliffs of the Gol Mountains are framed by two remarkable landmarks; Olkarien Gorge, a crucial nesting site for Rüppell’s griffon vultures, and the towering Nasera Rock, which rises 80 meters high. In this rugged landscape, the arid Salei Plains sustain only the most resilient wildlife during the dry season. However, in March and April, they become a prime gathering ground for massive herds of migrating wildebeest and zebras.

Further south, the fascinating Shifting Sands—a towering black dune composed of magnetic volcanic ash from Ol Doinyo Lengai—continues its westward journey across the plains, moving at an average speed of over 15 meters per year.

Shifting sands

The black sand dunes found in the eastern Serengeti Plain, near the Olduvai Gorge hominid site within the Ngorongoro Conservation Area in Tanzania, are primarily classified as volcanic sand dunes. Known as the Shifting Sands, these migratory dunes are situated approximately twelve kilometers northwest of the Olduvai Gorge Museum and about two kilometers from the edge of the gorge.

Recognized as one of the most remarkable moving ash dunes globally, it slowly drifts westward across the plains at an annual pace of roughly 15 to 29 meters. Over time, wind erosion has swept away the lighter ash particles, leaving behind the heavier, iron-rich minerals that give the dune its distinctive dark color.

Activities to Experience in Ngorongoro

Wildlife Game Drives

Embark on an exciting game drive as you descend into the Ngorongoro Crater, where diverse bird species can be spotted among the lush trees. The crater floor is home to a wide variety of wildlife, offering spectacular sightings.

Depending on the time of year, flocks of vibrant pink flamingos can be seen gracing the shores of Lake Magadi, while hippos wallow in the nearby swamps. The open grasslands north of the crater serve as a habitat for much of the resident wildlife.

Walking Safaris

For a more immersive experience, walking safaris allow you to explore the landscape on foot, guided by an expert ranger. This up-close adventure provides an intimate encounter with the region’s flora and fauna. Wildlife sightings are common throughout the conservation area, and guided walks along the crater rim offer chances to spot elephants wandering through the surrounding forests.

Birdwatching

With over 550 recorded bird species, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area is a paradise for birdwatchers. Birds can be observed during both game drives and walking safaris. The highland forests are home to species such as the white-eyed salty flycatcher and the Livingstone turaco. Depending on the season, flamingos gather around Lake Magadi, while ostriches, starlings, black kites, grey-crowned cranes, and African spoonbills can be seen throughout the area.

Visit to Oldupai Gorge

Take a guided tour through the historic Oldupai Gorge, where you can trace early human history by exploring fossilized footprints at Laetoli, preserved in volcanic rock for over 3 million years. A small yet fascinating museum showcases ancient artifacts and remains discovered at the site. Visitors can view detailed replicas of significant finds and join guided tours led by knowledgeable experts.

Cultural Encounters

Immerse yourself in the local culture by engaging with the Maasai people, visiting their traditional homesteads, and witnessing vibrant dance performances. For a deeper cultural experience, you may also visit the Hadzabe tribe—one of the last remaining hunter-gatherer communities. A tour of their remote settlements offers insight into their traditional way of life, including hunting and foraging techniques.