The Ngurdoto Crater is part of the Arusha National Park and is the caldera of an extinct volcano, that is sometimes called “Little Ngorongoro” because, just like Ngorongoro, has become, over time, a sort of “reserve in the reserve”.
Ngurdoto Crater is a volcanic crater in Arusha Region, Tanzania. The crater is 3.6 km (2.2 mi) in diameter at its widest and 100 meters (110 yds) deep. The crater is surrounded by forest whilst the crater floor is a swamp.
This pear-shape Ngurdoto Crater resembling just like a miniature of the crater comprises of five viewing points of mikindu, the Rock, Buffalo, the glade and Leitong being the highest point. From this point, the snowy peak of Mt. Kilimanjaro, Momella lakes and lower slope with the human settlement can be easily seen.
The Ngurdoto crater has played a great role toward biome, where a number of wildlife have lived in this great beautiful crater.
The based bottom covered with marshy grassland live buffalos, elephants, warthogs, some antelopes, monkeys, baboons, leopards, and spotted hyenas; there are also many species of birds such as the head hammer, the spur-winged goose, and herons.
In the forest also live blue monkeys and baboons who, unlike the colobus, prefer to spend their days on the ground, taking refuge on trees only during the night or if there is any danger that threatens them.
With a little luck, you can even spot the timid and shy red duiker or tragelafo striatum or the kirk dik-diks; there are also many birds inhabiting this forest, such as the silver cheeks hornbill, bee-eaters and turacos.
You cannot descend down into the crater because one wants to preserve and protect its ecosystem; but you can walk along a circular route on the crater rim, where you can meet different observation points: on the Northern edge there are the lookout with the best views.
From this elevated position, you can see all over the park below and, on clear days, you can admire the Kilimanjaro.
Accessibility
The road that you must travel by 4×4 to reach the edge of the caldera is surrounded by a dense rainforest; here there is a higher possibility of the whole of Tanzania to spot, only on the trees, the rare white and black colobus who is often one of the reasons why some travelers decide to visit the Arusha National Park.