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The Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Tanzania, renowned for its stunning landscapes and rich biodiversity. It encompasses various destinations that offer unique experiences for visitors. Below are the key destinations within the Ngorongoro Conservation Area:
1. Ngorongoro Crater
The centerpiece of the NCA, the Ngorongoro Crater is the world’s largest unbroken caldera, formed nearly 2.5 million years ago. Spanning approximately 300 square kilometers and reaching depths of 600 meters, it is famous for its high density of wildlife, including elephants, lions, and the endangered black rhino. The crater’s diverse ecosystems include grasslands, swamps, and lakes that attract a variety of animals.
2. Olmoti Crater
Located just north of the Ngorongoro Crater, Olmoti is an extinct volcano characterized by its shallow grassy floor and forested rim rising to 3,099 meters. This serene destination supports eland and bushbuck populations while also being a grazing area for Maasai herders and their livestock. A small waterfall flows from its southern side into the Munge Stream.
3. Empakai Crater
Empakai Crater features a deep emerald soda lake at its center and is surrounded by lush vegetation. The crater has a diameter of about 6 kilometers and reaches depths of 300 meters. It offers breathtaking views from its rim and is home to various wildlife species such as blue monkeys and buffaloes.
4. Ndutu Plains
Situated on the outskirts of the Southern Serengeti plains, Ndutu Plains are known for their acacia trees and stunning landscapes. This area serves as a calving ground during the wildebeest migration season, making it an excellent location for spotting predators like lions.
5. Olduvai Gorge
A significant archaeological site within the NCA, Olduvai Gorge has provided crucial insights into human evolution over nearly two million years. It contains fossils of early hominins such as Homo habilis and Australopithecus boisei, making it one of the most important paleoanthropological sites in the world.
6. Laetoli Footprints
This site is famous for preserving ancient hominid footprints dating back approximately 3.7 million years. These footprints provide valuable evidence regarding early human bipedalism.
7. Gol Mountains
Located in the northwest part of NCA, these mountains are known for their stark pink cliffs and serve as a bottleneck during the Great Migration when wildebeest and zebras traverse through this region in search of grazing grounds.
8. Shifting Sands
These unique black sand dunes are formed from volcanic ash from Ol Doinyo Lengai and move across the plains at an average rate of 15 to 29 meters annually due to wind action.
9. Nasera Rock
An impressive granite monolith rising about 80 meters high near Gol Mountains, Nasera Rock features archaeological findings including stone artifacts dating back thousands of years.
Each destination within the Ngorongoro Conservation Area offers distinct opportunities for wildlife viewing, cultural experiences with local tribes such as the Maasai, and Hadzabe hunter-gatherers, and exploration of geological wonders that highlight both natural beauty and historical significance.
From: $500 to $3500 pp/day
From: June to October (Wildlife viewing is best)
From: Most of the year – July to March (Expect crowds)
From: 260km² / 100mi²
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is renowned for its rich biodiversity and is home to a diverse array of wildlife. This area, particularly the Ngorongoro Crater, supports a population of approximately 25,000 large animals, primarily ungulates. The crater’s unique geological features and varied ecosystems contribute significantly to the wildlife diversity found here.
Big Five Animals
The conservation area is famous for housing all of Africa’s Big Five:
Other Notable Wildlife
In addition to the Big Five, various other species inhabit the Ngorongoro Conservation Area:
Bird Species
The avian diversity is also remarkable, with over 500 bird species recorded in the conservation area. Common birds include:
Ecological Importance
The ecological significance of Ngorongoro lies not only in its wildlife but also in its unique habitats such as grasslands, swamps like Gorigor Swamp, and forests like Lerai Forest. These microhabitats support different species and contribute to maintaining ecological balance.
Overall, Ngorongoro Conservation Area serves as a critical refuge for both large mammals and diverse bird species while facing challenges from human encroachment and environmental changes
The Ngorongoro Crater, located within the Ngorongoro Conservation Area in Tanzania, experiences a mild and temperate climate characterized by distinct wet and dry seasons. The elevation of the crater, which ranges from approximately 1,700 meters (5,577 feet) at the floor to about 2,300 meters (7,545 feet) at the rim, significantly influences its weather patterns.
Climate Overview
Temperature Variations
Rainfall Patterns
Humidity and Wind Conditions
In summary, while Ngorongoro Crater enjoys a generally pleasant climate year-round, visitors need to plan according to these seasonal variations in temperature and precipitation for an optimal experience.
Most people visit the Ngorongoro Crater as part of a Northern circuit safari. Conveniently, Ngorongoro lies en route to Serengeti National Park and is only a 3-hour drive* (180km/112mi) on a tarred road from the town of Arusha, which is the starting point of all safaris in northern Tanzania.
From Arusha, you can hop around the parks of the Northern circuit by small aircraft on chartered or scheduled flights. Alternatively, you can drive and do the whole circuit, or parts of it, by safari vehicle. A popular option is to fly into Serengeti and make your way back by safari vehicle via the Ngorongoro Crater, or the other way around. In most cases, your tour operator will pick you up from the airport and make all further arrangements for you.
Coming from the Seronera area in Serengeti, the distance to the crater is about 140km/90 mi and the driving time is about 3 hours*. This can obviously take much longer allowing for wildlife viewing along the way. The 80km/50 mi drive from Lake Manyara National Park to the crater takes about 2 hours*, and the 180km/110 mi drive from Tarangire National Park takes about 4 hours*.
The best option to get to Arusha is to fly into Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), which is situated about 50km/31mi from Arusha. It is also possible to fly into Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR) in Dar es Salaam and fly on to Arusha Airport (ARK) or Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO).
*Driving times are only a rough indication. You should always consider the possibility of significant delays.
Airlines & Ticket Prices
Please check Skyscanner to see which airlines can take you to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) or Julius Nyerere International Airport (DAR), and what tickets would cost.
Domestic Flights
Charter flights between parks are typically booked by tour operators as part of the safari tour. Domestic flights can be booked with several carriers:
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