You can explore Ngorongoro Crater and the surrounding Ngorongoro Highlands over one or more days, and include an easy walk in the Highlands around Olmoti Crater with views of the spectacular Munge waterfall.
Location & size:
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA) is situated in Northern Tanzania to the east of the Serengeti. The Ngorongoro Crater makes up 3% of the NCA, which covers over 8000km2.
Landscapes & vegetation:
Ngorongoro crater is one of the great natural wonders of the world, and a World Heritage Site since 1979. It is the largest unbroken caldera in the world. The extinct volcano and its surrounding area has a diverse array of ecological habitats including swamplands, forests, grasslands, salt pans and a large lake. We will explore this extinct volcano and surrounding area, and its diverse array of ecological habitats. This will be a site to cherish forever!
Mammals:
Ngorongoro Crater is known as a Garden of Eden and has an abundance of wildlife, with over 30,000 animals living within its 20 km wide boundaries. Ngorongoro Crater is home to a variety of predators such as lions and hyenas, as well as plains herbivores such as elephants, black rhinos, buffaloes, zebras and gazelles.This is the only place in Tanzania where you are almost guaranteed to see an endangered black rhino.
Birds:
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is internationally recognised as an Important Bird Area (IBA) and is home to over 550 species of birds, many of them endemic. Ruppell's griffon vulture and the Egyptian vulture can be seen soaring on the thermals. Endemic birds include Fischer's lovebird, the Northern anteater chat and the Jackson's widowbird. This widowbird is tranformed into a beautiful long-tailed bird during the mating season. It dances about frantically to attract a mate and makes for an excellent bird-watching moment!
Birding in Ngorongoro - more info
Reptiles:
Within the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, you should see brightly coloured Red-headed rock agamas sunning themselves on rocks. Whilst the males of the species have bright red heads and cyan-blue bodies, the females of this species are a relatively drab brown. They are full of character and very interesting to watch as they head-bob at each other and passing visitors! We may catch a glimpse of the Ruwenzori side-striped chameleon whilst walking around the Olmoti Crater, and possibly even the endemic Hanang hornless chameleon.
Herping in Ngorongoro - more info
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A herd of elephants in Ngorongoro Crater
(Loxodonta africana)
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Stunning World Heritage Site.
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Great natural wonder of the world.
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Magnificent views descending into crater.
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Diverse ecological habitats.
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home to lion, hyena, elephant.
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Endangered black rhino.
- Red-headed rock agama.
- Jackon's widowbird frantic dancing.
- Microcosm of African wildlife.
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