What to do in Ngorongoro
What to do in Ngorongoro Conservation Area : Of Africa’s most exceptional safari destination, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA) in northern Tanzania is one. The NCA is known for its rich biodiversity, stunning landscapes and historical significance meaning travelers have the chance to see the beauty and wildlife of the world’s most unique ecosystem. The world famous Ngorongoro Crater sits at the heart of this area and is the largest inactive volcanic caldera on the planet, but the surroundings landscapes are also rich in wildlife and massai culture.
A safari within in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area doesn’t end with game drives alone, and the range of activities involved will have you fully immersed in the wilderness, meeting the past of human evolution, and a colourful tale of the Maasai culture. Read on to find out the different activities you can have on a safari in Ngorongoro and enjoy a life experience of a lifetime.
Ngorngoro Crater Game Drives
The game drive inside the Ngorongoro Crater is the highlight of any safari into the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. An incredibly dense wildlife population inhabits this 20 kilometer natural amphitheater, making it one of the best places in Africa to go game viewing. The crater’s floor, with its grasslands, wetlands, woodlands and lakes, makes it just the kind of habitat that wildlife flocks to.
What to Expect on a Crater Game Drive:
The Big Five: If you want to see all of the Big Five lions, leopard, elephant, buffalo and the critically endangered black rhinoceros, there is only one place in Tanzania that you can do this: The Ngorongoro Crater. One of the highest densities of lions in the world and still home to a small but viable population of black rhino, the crater is also one of the last refuges of the African elephant.
Plentiful Wildlife: Other than the Big Five, visitors can expect to see herds of wildebeest, zebras and Thomson’s gazelles grazing in the crater floor. Losing a front leg doesn’t prevent a hippo from lounging in the crater’s pools and lakes, or the hyenas and jackals from hunting or scavenging nearby.
Birdwatching: Although shores are flanked with flamingos and other waterfowl, the shallowness and concentration of salts in Lake Magadi, a shallow soda lake in the crater, renders the lake itself inhospitable. Birdwatching enthusiasts will also spot with species including the crowned crane, ostrich and a variety of raptors skimming through the sky overhead.
Game drives begin early in the morning, when the animals are most active and best seen with photographers. Catching predators hunting during late afternoon drives over the crater rim is a different perspective.
Walking Safaris on the Crater Rim.
Game drives can be exciting ways to see big game but walking safaris are more intimate and slow. On walking safaris with experienced guides and armed rangers, you can see this flora and fauna up close and admire beautiful panoramic views of the crater, walking around the crater rim.
Key Highlights of Walking Safaris:
Up-Close with Nature: On game drives you may miss smaller wildlife like bushbucks, dik-diks and birds, but on foot you will be able to see them. You’ll also come to better understand the ‘plant life’ of the crater, as you will be taught about indigenous trees, shrubs and flowers by your guide.
Spectacular Views: After walking along the crater rim you are treated to breathtaking views of the caldera and an immeasurable plain beyond. Walking in the open air in the crater with a bit of wildlife in the distance had a peaceful feel bringing some awe and wonder to nature.
Birdwatching: Birdwatchers should take note that walking safaris afford you the opportunity to watch numerous bird species, including raptors (eagles, etc) as well as smaller sunbirds and weavers.
A good option for walking safari is Ngorongoro, Nigeria, so for people who would like to get into a more kind of deeper more educational- in more variety and getting the smallest details of the ecosystem.
Visit to Maasai Villages
The Ngorongoro Consrervational Area is not just about wildlife; there is historical richness of Maasai people, the inhabitants of the area for very long. Visiting a Maasai village, called ‘boma’ is a good way to learn about how the Maasai live, which revolves around cattle herding and living in harmony with nature.
What to Expect from a Maasai Village Visit:
Cultural Immersion: There are opportunities for visitors to experience the Maasai way of life as the Maasai themselves live: along with their colorful clothing and complex beadwork, the Maasai make their homes with mud and sticks. You will learn about the Maasai customs, social structure, and the tight connection with the land and the animals.
– Traditional Dances and Songs: The men of the Maasai are famous for their traditions, such as ceremonial songs and dances such as the ‘adumu’ or jumping dance. These energetic displays are part and parcel of Maasai celebrations and you may be invited to join in.
Handcrafted Souvenirs: Several Maasai women make lovely, beaded jewelry and crafts that are usually sold. The handcrafted items available at these shops are very unique and make wonderful souvenirs, and you’re supporting a local community by doing so.
Visiting a Maasai village to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area aids in familiarizing yourself with the particular harmony of conservation and society that sits in the Maasai village.
Exploring Olduvai Gorge
Olduvai Gorge is a must for the history and archaeology enthusiasts. Olduvai Gorge is one of the most important paleoanthropological sites in the world, and yet one that is located within the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
Discovering Human History:
Ancient Fossils and Tools: The remains of early human species such as Homo habilis, which is thought to have lived around 1.9 million years ago, are a few of the oldest and most important fossils from Olduvai Gorge. The Olduvai Gorge Museum in Tanzania allows visitors to see these discoveries, as well as ancient tools, fossils and exhibits on human evolution.
Guided Tours: Tours of Olduvai Gorge are expertly guided by archaeologists who provide tours with information about the pioneering work of archaeologists Louis and Mary Leakey whose discoveries changed the way we understand human history. The site also sometimes is known as “the Cradle of Mankind” because of its very important contribution to anthropology.
Laetoli Footprints: The Laetoli Footprints, preserved traces of hominin footprints dating 3.6 million years or more, are still open to visitors at Olduvai.
