Ngorongoro crater Tanzania safari

Ngorongoro crater Tanzania safari

Ngorongoro crater Tanzania safari : Ngorongoro crater offers some of the best wildlife viewing experiences during safaris in the northern part of Tanzania. The crater is home to numerous resident wildlife species such as black rhinos, lions, leopards, elephants, buffalos, hippos, waterbucks, wildebeests, zebras, gazelles, impalas, hartebeests, cheetahs, kudu, hyenas, warthogs, impalas among others.

In the depths of the Ngorongoro crater, you can also find the flocks of flamingos along the lake shores as you enjoy a safari at the destination.  You descend about 600 meters into the crater during safaris as you look out for wildlife species in the Ngorongoro crater.

Ngorongoro conservation area consists of grasslands, forest, swamps and also woodland. Another unique attraction around the crater is the Maasai people who co-exist with the wildlife species of Ngorongoro.

The Ngorongoro crater is a world heritage site and is also the world’s largest inactive volcanic caldera. The formation of the crater was as a result of collapse of a volcano over 3 million years ago.

Some of the activities to engage in during a safari in the Ngorongoro crater include the following;

Game drives

Wildlife viewing in Tanzania is among the main reasons for safaris in destinations such as the Ngorongoro crater which is home to a variety of wildlife species and also amazing scenery. Game drives are part of the safari activities carried out in the crater as you enjoy looking around the savannah plains and woodlands in search of wildlife species such as the big 5 like elephants, lions, leopards, rhinos and buffalos and other wildlife species.

During a game drive in the Ngorongoro crater, you can also enjoy a feel of the wilderness and also the abundance of wildlife in the crater like wildebeests, giraffes, elands, hippos, hyenas, warthogs, cheetahs, zebras, impalas, waterbucks, hartebeests among others. These game drives can be done in the morning and also in the afternoon.

Visiting the Maasai bomas

Ngorongoro conservation area is also a good location to interact with the Maasai people and get to know more about their semi nomadic culture and way of life. The Maasai can be seeing grazing their livestock like cattle and goats in the grass plains where wildlife species are also resident.

During the visits to the Maasai bomas, you can get a close encounter with the Maasai who are very welcoming people. The Maasai dress in colorful shukas and also have colorful jewelry like beaded necklaces. The Maasai can also accompany you during your activities as guides around the Ngorongoro conservation area.

Bird watching is another experience that is carried out during a safari around the Ngorongoro crater that has over 400 bird species including the flocks of flamingos that attract visitors to the destination.

Another safari activity that can be done during a safari around the Ngorongoro crater is visiting the Ol duvai gorge which is an archaeological site which is also referred to as the cradle of mankind. Safaris to the Ngorongoro crater can be combined with visiting Ol duvai gorge which also has a museum where some of the findings at the site are displayed.

The fossils discovered at Ol duvai gorge by Dr Louis and Mary Leakey are over 3 million years old. Other attractions found near the Ngorongoro conservation area include Ol donyo lengai (also referred to as mountain of god by the Maasai people), Empakaai crater and the Olmoti crater.

Best time to visit the Ngorongoro crater

When visiting the Ngorongoro conservation area, the time of the year which is recommended for wildlife viewing is the dry season from June to October. The Ngorongoro crater can however also be visited in the rainy season around November to April which is also the low season.

From February to March, the calving season during the wildebeest migration can also be seen during a safari around the Ngorongoro conservation area. About 8,000 calves are born daily around the Ndutu area during the calving season which is also a good time to see lions, leopards, cheetahs and other predators that hide close to the wildebeest herds and wait to prey on the unknowing wildebeests in the grass plains.

The dry season from June to October is considered best time to view wildlife species especially around water points and also the short grass plains make the wildlife viewing experience around the Ngorongoro crater better.

The Ngorongoro crater can be visited for a full day game viewing experience or a half day wildlife safari during your Tanzania safari. The destination is located about 180 kilometers from Arusha and is also a short drive to other destinations in the northern part of Tanzania like Tarangire national park, Lake Manyara national park and also the famous Serengeti national park which is also known for offering amazing safari experiences all through the year.

Among the ways you can get to the Ngorongoro conservation area is by driving from Arusha which can take about 4 hours or by flight to Kilimanjaro international airport and from the airport, you can enjoy a short drive to the destination.

A perfect way to end your day of wildlife viewing safari to the Ngorongoro crater is by staying in the various lodges found around the destination such as budget lodges, midrange and luxury lodges.

The more favorable accommodation options are found a short drive from the Ngorongoro crater such as in the neighboring town of Karatu.

Visit the Ngorongoro crater and enjoy an African safari in the northern part of Tanzania.