Location of Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Location of Ngorongoro Conservation Area : Located in the heart of Tanzania, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA) is a wild and ecologically rich part of Tanzania and one of the most iconic and must visit for the wildlife fans, photographers and African wild ness lovers. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this is special for its combination of gorgeous landscapes, deep volcanic craters, wonderful wildlife and important cultural heritage. The Ngorongoro Conservation Area encompasses some 8,292 square kilometers (3,200 square miles) of land encompassed between Serengeti National Park and Lake Manyara and is one of the most diverse safari regions in all of East Africa.
In this article we will discuss about the Ngorongoro Conservation Area: its past, geography and a wealth of wildlife viewing opportunities, and also give you tips to explore this incredible destination.
THE GEOGRAPHIC AND GEOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THE Ngorongoro CONSERVATION AREA
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area constitutes part of the larger Ngorongoro Crater Highlands, a group of extinct volcanoes and craters over two million years old. The most famous of these is the Ngorongoro Crater, the world’s largest inactive volcanic caldera. At 260 square kilometers (100 square miles) and 600 meters (2,000 feet) deep, often nicknamed “Africa’s Eden” this crater is truly massive. Some of the richest and densest concentrations of wildlife on the African continent naturally form a natural enclosure.
Ngorongoro Crater: The Formation
A huge volcano erupted more than two million to three million years ago to create Ngorongoro Crater. The volcano’s peak collapsed, making the caldera we see today, as a result of the eruption. Crater’s base and the fertile volcanic soil surrounding the crater have made it a lush enclave for wildlife and one of the world’s most extraordinary natural enclosures of live animals in the wild.
The wider Ngorongoro Conservation Area, which includes, amongst other things, the Empakaai Crater, Olmoti Crater and Olduvai Gorge, famous for its archaeological site, lies beyond also.
Ngorongoro Conservation Area rich with Wildlife Diversity
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is the number one wildlife viewing area in Africa with a fantastic diversity of animals all living compactly and easily accessible area. An impressive range of wildlife species are supported by lush grasslands, woodlands, swamps, and permanent water sources, and there are numerous opportunites for game viewing year round.
The Big Five and More
Lions, elephants, buffaloes, leopards and the rare black rhino are the famous ‘Big Five’ in the Ngorongoro Crater. In Tanzania, the crater is one of the few places where you have a good chance of seeing them all in one game drive.
Lions: About 60 to 70 lions roam in the crater — one of the highest concentrations of lions in Africa.
Elephants: Mainly older males are the elephants in the crater, as females are attracted to the thick forests around the crater rim.
Black Rhinos: The black rhinoceros for which Ngorongoro is a stronghold and the crater a refuge for one of the few viable breeding populations in East Africa.
Other Animals: The crater is also packed with zebras, wildebeests, hyenas, jackals, hippos, gazelles and more than 25,000 large mammals, in addition to the Big Five. Lake Magadi, the soda lake at the depths of the crater, is a glorious place for birdwatching both as it qualifies as the habitat of thousands of flamingos and other taloned bird species.
Maasai Cultural Heritage and Archaeological Significance
Ngorongoro is not solely about wildlife but also of great cultural and archaeological relevence. For many centuries the Maasai people have lived in harmony with the wildlife of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and their presence is essential to the area’s vitality. The Maasai hold visitors close to their community, giving them the chance to speak to them, learn about their traditional way of life and how they live side by side with the wildlife within this shared space.
Maasai Culture
They are semi nomadic pastoralists that herd their cattle in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area costing over 200 years. And will bring visitors to Maasai villages, called ‘bomas,’ where they can be introduced to traditional Maasai dances, songs and crafts. The Maasai live a unique life, dressed in culturally minded clothing, and have deep connection with the land, offering a culturally uplifted experience for travelers.
Olduvai Gorge
It is also a study site of human evolution: the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Within the NCA Olduvai Gorge is one of the most important paleoanthropological sites in the world. Fossils and tools found at this site give us valuable information regarding the earliest humans and human ancestors, who were here nearly 2 million years ago. The Olduvai Gorge Museum contains some of the earliest hominid remains including footprints preserved in volcanic ash and thought to be by some of the first people to walk upright.
Ngorongoro Conservation Area – Best Time to Visit
Unlike Mount Kilimanjaro, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area is a year round destination and it’s important to know when you want to see it to know what’s the best time to visit it.
Dry Season
But the best time to visit Ngorongoro is when it is dry. The vegetation is less dense, making it easier to see animals as they gather around remaining water sources, during these months. Also, the dry season provides cooler weather for game drives. The best chance to see the Big Five is during early morning and late afternoon game drives.
Wet Season
During the wet season, greening the crater, plant flowering and green hills just adds to the beauty of the landscape. Abundant water, however, means wildlife can be more dispersed, with the wet season best for bird watching as migratory species arrive in the area. As well, the wet season is less crowded, so the safari is a bit more peaceful and intimate.
The annual wildebeest calving in January and February in the southern Serengeti and Ngorongoro Conservation Area is one of the major highlights of the wet season. Wildebeests and gazelles give birth to their young, and attract predators like lions and hyenas making it an exciting safari spectacle.
