Ngorongoro conservation area is situated west of Arusha in the Crater Highlands area of Tanzania between the Serengeti and Lake Manyara. This conservation area is named after Ngorongoro Crater, a large volcanic caldera within the area. The Ngorongoro volcano was one of the world’s tallest mountains before it exploded and collapsed. It is the largest intact ancient caldera in the world, nearly three million years old. Ngorongoro Crater conservation area is one of Tanzania’s most popular wildlife viewing areas.

The Ngorongoro volcanic crater has a permanent water supply which attracts all kinds of animals that stay in this area rather than migrating. Tourists on Tanzania safaris have explored the area and have viewed the large game as well as Tanzania birding safaris. Ngorongoro crater Tanzania offers a classic Big 5 Tanzania wildlife safari experience.

There are thousands of wildlife animals that can be seen on the crater floor for example; lions, elephants, rhinos, Thomson’s gazelles, and buffaloes. The biggest number of animals in this conservation area are the wildebeests and zebras that count to over half of the animals that call the Ngorongoro Crater Tanzania home.

Tanzania bird watching safaris are excellent, especially around Lake Migadi, which attracts flocks of flamingos to the shallows. Hippos are also pleased to submerge themselves during the day and then graze in the nearby grass in the evening. Activities in Ngorongoro crater conservation area Tanzania range from game drives to nearby Lake Manyara and local bird watching to cultural visits and mountain biking.

The Ngorongoro Crater Tanzania offers amazing accommodation that gives tourists of safaris to Tanzania the best views in Africa, if not, the world. Staying at these prime-location lodges will put you first in the queue to drive down to the crater floor in the morning but for more affordable Ngorongoro safari accommodation in an equally tranquil and not much less scenic setting, head for the town of Karatu, set some 20km south from the crater in the green rolling hills of the Karatu Highlands.

Olduvai Gorge

But also, of interest in the conservation area is the Olduvai Gorge. Olduvai Gorge is an important archeological site that has revealed ancient skull and bone fragments that have delivered critical information about early mankind. The bones are determined to be approximately 2 million years old. There are also tools and hunting weapons from that were discovered in Olduvai Gorge and they are date to over 1.5 million years ago. These and other discoveries provide more room for Tanzania cultural safaris to tourists.