Ngorongoro Crater
Conservation Area
 Often referred to as "Africa's Eden", the
Ngorongoro Crater Conservation area is located in Northern Tanzania,
approximately 180kms northwest of Arusha, lying south-east of the
Serengeti National Park and just north of Lake
Manyara National Park. It is the largest intact crater in the world, being 610
meters deep, 16 kms across and covering an area of 540 sq kms.
The
Conservation area is regarded as a natural wonder of the world (the 8th) and is
a fine blend of landscapes, people and
wildlife. It is one of Africa's main
archaeological sites, and has been declared a World Heritage Site. The Crater
teaming with wildlife, with virtually all the big game species found here,
including;
zebra,
wildebeest,
black rhino, antelope,
giraffe,
buffalo,
lion,
cheetah,
leopard, and plenty of monkeys. All the
elephants you will see in the Crater are large old bulls. Female breeding
elephants are not known to come into the crater as the steep sides are a
hindrance to them. The area is also an ornithologists' paradise, with the
thousands of flamingos wading in the shallows of Lake Magadi and hundreds of
other species of birdlife.
A
safari to Ngorongoro Conservation Area will
normally include a visit to Olduvai Gorge, one of the most important
prehistoric sites in the world. This is where the Leakeys discovered the
hominoid remains of a 1.8 million year old skeleton. Some evacuated fossils
also go to show that the area is one of the oldest sites of hominoid habitation
in the world.
The best time of the year to visit is from December to
May. This is when you are likely to experience the spectacular sight of the
annual Wildebeest migration, which spills over
into the Ngorongoro Crater from the Serengeti National Park. However, wildlife
viewing in the Ngorongoro is excellent all year round.
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