Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Ngorongoro Conservation Area in northern Tanzania, near Arusha, is easily accessible and known for its mild climate and diverse wildlife, including the Big Five. Its main attraction is the Ngorongoro Crater, offering excellent game viewing and cultural experiences with Maasai communities. Visitors can enjoy game drives, nature walks, and cultural visits, with the dry season from June to October being the best time for wildlife viewing.

The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is also famous for the Olduvai Gorge, a significant archaeological site that has yielded fossils and evidence of early human ancestors. The gorge is located within the conservation area and is known as the “Cradle of Mankind” due to the groundbreaking discoveries made there by renowned paleoanthropologists Louis and Mary Leakey. Their work at Olduvai Gorge has greatly contributed to our understanding of human evolution and the history of early humans in Africa.

Accessibility

The area is accessible by road from Arusha, with a travel time of approximately 2-3 hours.

Climate

Ngorongoro Conservation Area experiences a mild and pleasant climate, with cooler temperatures at higher elevations.

Popular for

The area is renowned for the Ngorongoro Crater, a volcanic caldera teeming with diverse wildlife, including the Big Five (elephant, lion, leopard, buffalo, rhinoceros). It is also home to Maasai communities and offers cultural experiences.

Size

The conservation area covers an area of about 8,292 square kilometers.

Activities

Visitors can enjoy game drives in the crater, nature walks, cultural visits to Maasai villages, and birdwatching.

Best Time to Visit

The dry season, from June to October, is considered the best time to visit the Ngorongoro Conservation Area for wildlife viewing, as animals concentrate around water sources in the crater. However, the wet season (November to May) offers lush landscapes and birdwatching opportunities.