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Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA) is one of the premier destinations in the Northern tourist circuit in Tanzania. The NCA is a vast protected area with breathtaking landscapes characterized by highland plains, savanna woodlands, savanna grassland, and forests.
Ngorongoro Conservation Area is a home to the world’s natural wonder – the Ngorongoro Crater which is also most popular as a Garden of Eden. Ngorongoro is one place that is full of life, a perfect destination for nature enthusiasts to encounter the Big 5 game.
Established in 1959, Ngorongoro is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its land area coverage expands up to 8000 sq. km. It officially became a UNESCO Site in 1979 and is also suitably located in the area where you can explore the Olduvai Gorge. A visit to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area is a great chance for you to encounter the Big 5 game in the wild.
Ngorongoro Conservation Area lies west of Arusha, and is to the northwest, there is Serengeti and in the East, there is the Great Rift Valley. The Ngorongoro Crater forms part of this conservation area. The Ngorongoro Crater is a volcano feature which is 610 meters deep and has a width of 20 km. It is the world’s largest inactive caldera.
Wildlife to see
Ngorongoro Conservation Area never disappoints when it comes to wildlife encounters. A huge profusion of wildlife reside in the various habitats in the Ngorongoro that make it a bio-diverse area. The numerous wildlife to see on Tanzania safari in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area include zebras, gazelles, wildebeest, black rhinos, lions, cheetahs, hippos, hyenas, buffaloes, impalas, warthogs, wild hunting dogs, leopards, golden cats, foxes, honey badgers, and more.
Bird species
Over 500 species of birds call Ngorongoro Conservation Area a home including migratory and resident species. Birds of interest in Ngorongoro include Kori bustard, rufous-tailed weaver bird, Jackson’s widowbird, secretary bird, white-eyed slaty flycatchers, Augur buzzard, Egyptian vulture, African spoonbill, Eastern double-collared sunbird, yellow-necked spurfowl, red and yellow barbets, Schawlow’s turacos, little swift, southern pochard, red-billed ducks, spur-winged goose, blacksmith lapwing, three-banded plover, gray crowned crane, pied avocet, yellow bishop, rufous-tailed weaver, Holub’s golden-weavers, African fire finch, yellow billed egret, western marsh harrier, squacco heron, saddle-billed stork, whiskered tern, Southern red bishop, red-billed oxpeckers, Eurasian blackcap, fan-tailed window bird, Kenya rufous sparrow, white-eyed slaty flycatchers, Speke’s weavers, and hartlaub’s bustard.
Additional species of birds in Ngorongoro include white-faced whistling duck, verreaux’s eagle owl, Maccoa duck, Nyanza swift, emerald-spotted wood dove, African palm swift, African rail, rameron pigeon, Northern shovelers, dideric cuckoos, lanner falcons, African hobby, Namaqua dove, mourning collared dove, hooded vultures, black-headed gull, dark chanting goshawk, little bee-eaters, long-legged buzzard, temminck’s courser, cinnamon breasted bunting, and white-bellied canary, etc.
Things to do in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Game drive
Game drives are perfect way to unearth the wonders in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. During the game drive, expect to come across the Big 5 game, plus other wildlife including hyenas, giraffes, impalas, warthogs, waterbucks, elands, gazelles, hartebeest, and cheetahs.
Birding
Ngorongoro is one of the iconic birding spots in Tanzania. A birding excursion in this conservancy area takes you on the search for diverse birds including the European strain vultures, flamingos, secretary bird, white-eyed slaty flycatchers, kori bustards, black kite, crown cranes, hammer kops, pelicans, little yellow flycatchers, northern pied babblers, long billed tailor birds, hartlaub’s turacos, Amani sunbird, Usambara akalat, Sokoke scops owl, pangani long claws, Hildebrandt’s spurfowl, and grey chested helmet shrike.
Other species of birds include wattled crane, rufous winged sunbird, Karamoja apalis, basra reed warblers, martial eagle, rufous-tailed weavers, black winged lapwing, woodpeckers, reed warblers, thick bellied seed eaters, kingfishers, and saddle bills, etc.
Cultural tours
Adjacent to Ngorongoro is the Maasai village, one of the best places to visit for you to explore more about the Maasai people. A cultural tour at the Maasai village involves exploring more about the distinct cultures, traditions, and practices of the Maasai people. Luckily, there is also opportunity to enjoy great dances, music performances from the Maasai residents and a lot. Cultural excursions are always done with the lead of an experienced guide and you can choose to go in the afternoon or morning.
Balloon tours
In addition to 4×4 game drives, visitors can also opt for hot air balloon tours. Hot air balloon tours allow you to enjoy aerial views of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area rather than using a 4WD car.
A myriad of wildlife can be spotted on a hot air balloon excursion combined with breathtaking views of the landscapes featuring vast savannas and craters. The balloon excursions come with a bush breakfast and champagne, etc.
Hiking
Visitors can also embark on guided hiking expeditions. The Ngorongoro Crater is the best spot to consider for hiking excursions. Besides, visitors can also embark on trekking excursions up to the crater’s rim to enjoy spectacular views of the surrounding areas and the crater itself.
When to travel to explore the wonders of Ngorongoro
Ngorongoro is best visited during the peak dry season that is from June to October. It is around the dry season when majority of wildlife congregate around the few water sources. The wet or rainy season also comes with its benefits, especially for visitors who desire to enjoy birding excursions.
Where to stay
On a visit to Ngorongoro Conservation Area, the places to consider for overnight stays include the Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge, Ngorongoro Crater Lodge, Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge, Neptune Ngorongoro Luxury Lodge, Kirurumu Ngorongoro Camp, and Lemala Ngorongoro.
How to get to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Ngorongoro is reachable by road or air. By road, you can use a 4×4 safari vehicle and drive about 4 hours from Arusha to the northern tourist circuit. By air, guests can connect to Ngorongoro by flight up to Lake Manyara Airstrip where you can easily drive to your lodge.
Conclusively, visit Ngorongoro Conservation Area to explore the Big 5 game, Ngorongoro Craters, birds, and other unique features. A myriad of exciting activities await you to engage in on a tour in the Ngorongoro protected area. Plan and book a Tanzania wildlife tour to Ngorongoro and you won’t be left in regrets.
