Ngorongoro Crater & Conservation Area Safari Tanzania

The Ngorongoro crater within the Ngorongoro Conservation Area is one of the highly visited areas in Africa. The Ngorongoro is home to the world’s largest inactive, unbroken, and unfilled volcanic caldera that was formed when a large volcano erupted and collapsed on itself about 3 million years ago. Ngorongoro Crater & Conservation Area Safari Tanzania with us are rewarding with exceptional wildife viewing.

The crater floor is home to great numbers of wildlife which makes it one of the most beautiful natural wildlife safari destinations in Africa exceptional for high-density wildlife viewing. Ngorongoro Crater & Conservation Area Safari Tanzania will reward you with incredible wildlife viewing experiences across the crater floor.  Ngorongoro crater is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Ngorongoro crater measures between 16 to 19 kilometers in diameter covering a total land area of 264 square kilometers (103 square miles). The rims of the crater are raised to almost 2,000 feet (about 610 meters) above the crater floor.

Ngorongoro Crater & Conservation Area Safari Tanzania

What is special about Ngorongoro Crater?

The Ngorongoro crater is unique because it is one of its kind, the world’s largest inactive, unbroken, and unfilled volcanic caldera. The crater also has a unique microclimate that makes it enjoyable for wildlife viewing all year round. Since wildlife mainly stays in the crater all year round, the crater is good to visit at any time. However, during the rainy season, Lake Magadi found within the crater gets higher water levels that attract higher concentrations of flamingos. The crater floor can get busy with safari vehicles and is unique for a visit all year round.

How did animals get into Ngorongoro Crater? – Ngorongoro Crater & Conservation Area Safari Tanzania

Animals were attracted to the Ngorongoro crater by the green grass that was on the cliffs and walls of the crater. Wildlife in the crater includes both small and large animals with the big five which are buffaloes, elephants, leopards, black rhinos and lions being part of them. Some animals are thought to just get trapped in the crater since it was once a migratory corridor for the dry season as animals crossed from Serengeti National Park to Lake Manyara National Park.

There are over 25,000 animals in the Ngorongoro crater which makes it the most densely populated area in Africa. The crater harbors over 55 permanent resident lions on the crater floor making it a place with the highest lion pride per capita for such a small area.

Within this amazing Ngorongoro crater is a medley of wildlife including over 7,000 wildebeest, 6000 black spotted hyenas, 4,000 zebras, 3,000 elands, 3,000 gazelle, 300 elephants, and 30 black rhinos. Other animals that can be found in the crater include kobs, antelopes, jackals, and hippos.

Rhinos are in few numbers all over Africa, however, Ngorongoro crater offers the great opportunity of seeing black rhinos at a close range and ease in their natural habitat.  There are 30 black rhinos in the crater and these are protected heavily by the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority.

Birdlife in Ngorongoro  

There is also a very vibrant bird life in Ngorongoro crater as it hosts over 500 bird species. The crater is definitely a great hot spot for birding safaris in Tanzania as birders can spot very many bird species within a small period of time. With the different vegetation in the crater, it has attracted a wide range of bird species. The most common birds in the crater are ostriches, secretary bird, kori bastard, open billed storks, flamingos, white pelicans, Fischer’s lovebird, superb starling, hamerkop, kingfisher, and many more.

Fresh and alkaline water attracted more wildlife and bird species like flamingos. Ngorongoro crater has both permanent resident birds as well as seasonal or migratory birds that come in from other parts of Africa and Europe.  Migratory birds are usually common during the month of April in the rainy season.