Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Ngorongoro Conservation Area is a protected area and a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Ngorongoro District, 180 km (110 mi) west of Arusha City in Arusha Region, within the Crater Highlands geological area of northeastern Tanzania. The area is named after Ngorongoro Crater, a large volcanic caldera within the area.

Ngorongoro Crater

The Ngorongoro Crater, the world’s biggest intact and unfilled volcanic caldera, is the principal tourist attraction of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. It is the largest and most picturesque crater in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, with a dense population of species plants due to its different ecosystems, which include grasslands, swamps, rivers, and woodlands. It is also one of Africa’s Seven Natural Wonders, thanks to its outstanding natural beauty that permits animals to freely walk in and out throughout the year. The Ngorongoro Crater is home to more than 25,000 animals, including the big five: elephants, buffaloes, rhinos, lions, and leopards. Other animals found in this crater include hippos, hyenas, warthogs, zebras, elands, gazelles, and wildebeests, to name a few. This makes Ngorongoro Crater perhaps the best place in Tanzania to spot and watch the big five and other wild animals more readily. One of the best places to see critically endangered wildlife like black rhinos.

What to do in the crater:

Game drives, walking safari, visiting Maasai bomas, photographic safaris and bush meals.

Best time to visit:

June to October & February to March (less rain)