Ngorongoro crater lion population

Ngorongoro crater lion population : Ngorongoro crater is a wildlife viewing destination in the northern part of Tanzania which is also one of the natural wonders of Africa.

There about 65 to 75 lions which can be seen on the crater floor with about 8 prides as of April 2020. Lions are part of the big 5 which are the most difficult wildlife species which are hunted on foot and they include elephants, buffalos, leopards and rhinos.

The Ngorongoro conservation area is also home to the Maasai people who can be seen grazing around the grassy plains. The Maasai pastoralists live in Ngorongoro along with the different wildlife species.

Other wildlife species which live in the Ngorongoro crater include elephants, buffalos, leopards, wildebeests, hyenas, gazelles, black rhinos, elands, antelopes, jackals, hippos, warthogs, waterbucks and many others.

The lion prides in the Ngorongoro crater include Munge, Munge Mabinti, Munge tati, Mungedge, Lakes, Lagunita, Lakette, Lucia among others. Each of the lion prides can be seen in their territories during a wildlife viewing experience at the destination.

Female lions are known to hunt together and can be seen around the Ngorongoro crater during a wildlife viewing experience. The lion prides consist of a few males and cubs and the habitat for these lions include dense forests, grasslands and the savannah.

Lions are known to be active during the night and during safaris, they are fewer lions as a result of factors like loss of habitat as well as human conflict among others. Depending on the game viewing activity which is carried out around the Ngorongoro crater, different numbers of lions are spotted.

During the day time lions can be seen sleeping or resting as tourists enjoy exploring the Ngorongoro crater. In the day time, lions are known to rest as they digest their food from their previous kill.

Apart from the Ngorongoro conservation area, lions can also be spotted in other wildlife viewing destinations in the northern part of Tanzania such as Lake Manyara national park which is home to the tree climbing lions, in Serengeti national park as well as Tarangire national park.

There is a larger food supply for the lions around the Ngorongoro crater and the male lions tend to be bigger in size which helps them to mark their territories and also deter lions from other prides from joining the prides.

Tanzania is not only for amazing wildlife viewing at different times of the year but also for having the highest lion population in Africa. The best time for wildlife viewing which is recommended for safaris is the dry season from June to October.

There are also projects which are put in place around Tanzania to monitor the population of lions and these include kope lion project in Serengeti national park and in the southern part of Tanzania the Ruaha carnivore project.

The projects put in place around Tanzania also pay an important role of engaging the local communities in conservation of the lions for future generations.

Game viewing activities which are carried out around the Ngorongoro crater include;

Game drives

Game drives around the Ngorongoro crater are carried out during the day and involves the vehicles driving 600 meters into the crater where various wildlife species can be seen such as lions, elephants, buffalos, rhinos, leopards, cheetahs, hippos, zebras, waterbucks, hyenas, warthogs, elands, impalas, wildebeests and many others.

During this game viewing activity around the Ngorongoro crater, tourists also enjoy seeing attractions such as Lake Magadi where bird species like flamingos and many other bird species can be seen along the shores of the lake.

Guided nature walks

Another way to explore the attractions around the Ngorongoro crater and also look out for the various wildlife species like lions is the guided nature walks. This activity involves exploring the destination on foot while getting a close experience with the natural surroundings and also enjoying wildlife viewing experience from a close distance.

Community visits

Community visits are also carried out during safaris to the Ngorongoro crater and the Maasai people who live in the Ngorongoro conservation area can be seen as they graze their livestock in the grassy plains.

The Maasai area known for their unique culture and way of life and during the community visits, tourists interact with them and get to know about their culture, visit the traditional homesteads of the Maasai and also enjoy seeing local art and crafts like the beaded jewelry made by the Maasai women.

How to get to the Ngorongoro crater

The Ngorongoro crater is located in the northern part of Tanzania and can be accessed by driving from Arusha as well as by charter and domestic flights from Arusha to Lake Manyara airstrip.

Visit the Ngorongoro crater and enjoy seeing lions and many other wildlife species and different attractions during your safari.