Best time to visit Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Best time to visit Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Best time to visit Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Best time to visit Ngorongoro Conservation Area: The Ngorongoro conservation area is a wildlife viewing destination that is found in the northern part of Tanzania. This destination is visited by tourists at different times of the year to enjoy wildlife viewing and engaging in many other activities in Ngorongoro conservation area during their safaris in Tanzania.

Ngorongoro conservation area is part of the northern tourist circuit of Tanzania which also has other destinations such as Serengeti national park, Tarangire national park, Lake Manyara national park, Arusha national park.

The Ngorongoro conservation area covers about 8292 square kilometers and is made up of savannah plains, highlands and a volcanic caldera.

The best time to visit the Ngorongoro conservation area is during the dry season around June to October for wildlife viewing activities. Other months when tourists visit the crater for wildlife viewing is during the high season around July to March and in the low season around April and May when there are fewer crowds at Ngorongoro conservation area.

For bird watching, tourists and other visitors like foreign residents and East Africans can visit the Ngorongoro conservation in the wet season around November to April when wildlife viewing is also among the activities which can be carried out while on safari at this destination. 

Migrant and native bird species can be spotted during the wet season which makes the months of November to March favorable for bird watching experiences around the Ngorongoro conservation area.

During the wet season, the crater has a green landscape and there are fewer visitors around the Ngorongoro conservation area which favors travellers who prefer less crowds while on safari in Tanzania.

The Ngorongoro crater is one of the natural wonders of Tanzania and is the world’s largest inactive caldera. Formed as a result of volcanic activity, the Ngorongoro crater is home to numerous wildlife and bird species which can be spotted during a safari.

The wildebeest migration also takes place in the Ngorongoro conservation area and it is good to visit this destination for the wildebeest migration around December which is also the time when the calving season takes place. 

The wildebeest migration is the annual movement of over 2 million wildebeests annually across the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem. Different tour operators organize safaris to the Ngorongoro conservation area, Serengeti national park and Masai Mara national reserve for the wildebeest migration.

Activities which tourists engage in during their safaris to the Ngorongoro conservation area include the following;

Game drives in the Ngorongoro crater

Game drives in the Ngorongoro crater are part of the safari experience as tourists enjoy their descend 600 meters into the crater where different wildlife species can be spotted such as cheetahs, rhinos, buffalos, lions, leopards, elephants, zebras, antelopes, waterbucks, wildebeests, gazelles, impalas, warthogs and many others. The big 5 (elephants, rhinos, lions, leopards, buffalos) are also sought after during safaris in the Ngorongoro crater.

Black rhinos are among the rare wildlife species which can be spotted during a game drive around the Ngorongoro conservation area. There are also a big number of predators in Ngorongoro and during a safari, tourists can enjoy watching as the predators like lions, leopards and cheetahs hunt their prey.

Ngorongoro conservation area has about 30 black rhinos, 3000 elands, 7000 wildebeests, 300 elephants and many other wildlife species.

Nature walks along the crater rim

Walking safaris around the crater rim is another experience which tourists engage in during their safaris around the Ngorongoro conservation area.

This activity allows the tourists to get a close experience and encounter with their natural surroundings in Ngorongoro conservation area and also to enjoy exploring the destination on foot in the company of an armed ranger guide.

During the nature walks around the crater rim, tourists can also encounter the locals (Maasai) who live around the Ngorongoro conservation area and coexist with the wildlife species at the destination.

The Maasai can be seen grazing their livestock during nature walks around the Ngorongoro conservation area such as cattle, goats and sheep. The activity of nature walks around the Ngorongoro conservation area also enables tourists to learn how to track wildlife species and to identify different wildlife species from their dung and footprints.

Visitors exploring the Ngorongoro conservation area also enjoy the beautiful views around the destination during the walking safaris.

Bird watching

Bird watching is another activity to look forward to during a safari at the Ngorongoro conservation area. With over 300 bird species such as the lesser flamingos along the shores of Lake Magadi, the birding activity is amazing in and around the crater.

This activity is best done during the wet season when both migratory and native bird species can be seen around the Ngorongoro conservation area. Locations for bird watching around Ngorongoro include the highlands and in the forest.

Bird species include ostriches, crowned cranes, secretary birds, kori bustards, fiscal shrikes, storks, weaver birds, Livingstone turaco, black winged lapwing, black kites, red and yellow barbet, rufous tailed weavers, vultures, starlings, scarlet chested sunbirds, eagles among others.

Cultural tours

The Maasai people can also be encountered during a safari in Ngorongoro conservation area. During the cultural tours, tourists interact with the Maasai people and get to know more about the culture and traditions of the Maasai who are known for their nomadic way of life.

During the cultural tours, tourists visit the traditional homesteads of the Maasai, see local art and craft work like beaded jewelry such as necklaces and earrings, watching traditional dance performances among other activities.

Crater hike

Hiking is another activity which takes place around Ngorongoro conservation area. The hikes take place around the Empakai crater as well as in the Ngorongoro highlands following different hiking trails.

Sundowners can also be carried out around the Ngorongoro conservation area during a safari.

How to get to Ngorongoro conservation area

Ngorongoro conservation area can be accessed by a 2 hour drive from Arusha to Ngorongoro conservation area.

Visit the Ngorongoro conservation area and enjoy exploring the grassy plains in search of various wildlife species.

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