Attractions around Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Ngorongoro Conservation Area is in northern Tanzania. It’s home to the vast, volcanic Ngorongoro Crater and “big 5” game (elephant, lion, leopard, buffalo, rhino). Huge herds of wildebeests and zebras traverse its plains during their annual migration. Livestock belonging to the semi-nomadic Maasai tribe graze alongside wild animals. Hominin fossils found in the Olduvai Gorge date back millions of years.
Think of another place in the world where you can see such a unique setting with diverse scenery, prolific wildlife and birdlife, and an ecosystem like no other.
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area covers mountain forests, woodlands, grasslands, lakes, swamps, and two major rivers. Not to mention Ngorongoro Crater, Oldupai Gorge and Laetoli.
There is a number of attractions and activities one, can undertake on their visit to Ngorongoro Conservation Area, which includes;
Empakaai Crater
Empakaai offers a welcome opportunity to break the safari regime of twice-daily game drives with a stiff steep guided hike to the crater floor. The steep but scenic descent along a tolerably well-maintained footpath takes 45-60 minutes, longer if you’re looking out for the plentiful birds that inhabit the forested crater walls, and there’s also a chance of spotting bushbuck, buffalo, blue monkey and even elephant. Good walking shoes and a reasonable level of fitness are recommended.
Game drive
Attract and offer unique wildlife game viewing than any other park in Tanzania apart for Serengeti National Park! Setting up an itinerary to explore the natural beauty of the Ngorongoro crater with our 4×4 4WD open roof land cruiser for a full-day game drives. The Game drive-in Ngorongoro crater is allowed up to only from 6:00 am up to 4:30 pm and all the safari cars must be out of the crater.
The Ngorongoro Crater is a spectacular natural sanctuary for over 25,000 animals. It is also a conservation area inhabited by the Maasai tribe. The game drive usually takes 5-6hrs only inside the crater when you descend to the floor of the Crater for game viewing drives.
Maasai Village
The Maasai tribe is the original inhabitants of this area. In fact, they named the place “Ngorongoro” which means “gift of life.” They are probably the most famous indigenous tribe if the east and a visit to their village is definitely an experience worthy of taking.
During the visit, you will be able to meet Maasai men and women, enjoy dancing and listening to their native melodies, be entertained with a dramatic enactment, and maybe even try on their red cloaks! What makes this experience enriching is that you get to see an authentic social side of Africa and a glimpse of the rich Maasai culture.
Dine in the Wild
How do you feel about a picnic in the wild? In Ngorongoro Crater, designated picnic areas await you! Whether you are going to have breakfast or lunch or eating at the hood of the car, splendid views are guaranteed. Plus, wild animals are walking freely around. You might even share that breakfast spread with an elephant!
Ngorongoro Crater
At 19km wide and with a surface of 264 sq km, Ngorongoro is one of the largest unbroken calderas in the world that isn’t a lake. Its steep walls soar 400m to 610m and provide the setting for an incredible natural drama, as prey and predators graze and stalk their way around the open grasslands, swamps, and acacia woodland on the crater floor. It’s such an impressive sight that, other vehicles aside, you’ll wonder whether you’ve descended into a wildlife paradise.
Olduvai Gorge
If you love archaeology or you even if you just want to see important paleontological records related to human evolution, Olduvai Gorge is the place to go. It is one of the most important paleoanthropological sites in the world and gives us a good understanding of early human evolution.
Oldupai Museum
Museum in Oldupai Gorge
The small Oldupai Museum on the rim of Oldupai Gorge stands on one of the most significant archaeological sites on earth. It was here in 1959 that Mary Leakey discovered a 1.8-million-year-old ape-like skull from an early hominin (human-like being) now known as Australopithecus boisei. This discovery, along with that of fossils of over 60 early hominids (including Homo habilis and Homo erectus) forever changed the way we understood the dawn of human history. Sadly, the museum is a work in progress.
Laetoli
About 45km south of Oldupai Gorge at remote Laetoli is a 27m-long trail of 3.7-million-year-old hominid footprints, probably made by Australopithecus afarensis. Discovered by Mary Leakey’s team in 1976 and excavated two years later, it’s an extraordinarily evocative and remote site. An EU-funded museum (still under construction) is planned, but there’s a small temporary museum on the site, with only copies of the prints currently visible. Cast copies of the prints are in Oldupai Museum.
Gol Mountains
Mountain in Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Some places are so far off well-traveled routes that there are no tracks other than those left by wildlife and traditional herders. The remote and rarely visited Gol Mountains area, northwest of Ngorongoro but still within the boundaries of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area is just such a place. This remains one of the most traditional corners of Tanzania, home to Maasai who still kill lions as their rite of passage into warriorhood, and who still live outside cash society.
Bushwalks
A bushwalk on safari is an excellent way to stretch the legs and to get up close to nature. Bush walks are only allowed in areas where visitors are safe, designated and they are normally with a park ranger. A bush walk is highly recommended, even if it’s only for a short distance. It’s an excellent way to explore the park on foot. Walking inside the crater are among the best activities you can do in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
Photography
The top activity for a safari in any country is photography. Whether you are a professional of many years or just a beginner, you will have ample opportunity to practice your technique while on safari. For the more serious photographer, a telephoto lens is recommended, and you will see lenses of all lengths and sizes while on safari. Those going on night drives may wish to invest in a night camera. However, a night game drive is not allowed in the crater. Take a fantastic wildlife game viewing in the caldera for your lifetime adventure.
Hippo Pool
This is one of the only top Attractions in the Ngorongoro conservation area, where you can get out of your vehicle. At that place, you can have a picnic breakfast, you can eat outside, basking in the early morning sun. Visiting the Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania wouldn’t be complete without visiting the hippo pool. You can see a thousand of Hippo swimming in the pool sound with different voices of birds!