GET TO KNOW THE PARK

Two million years ago a volcano thought to have been slightly taller than Mt Kilimanjaro erupted with such force that the mouth of the volcano imploded. Once the dust settled, what remained is still the largest intact caldera on earth – the Ngorongoro Crater.

The crater is vast, covering 260 km² (100 mi²), with the rim standing 610 metres (2000 ft) above the surrounding landscape.
The eruption coated both the inside of the crater and the surrounding area in mineral-rich dust and volcanic rock, creating a fertile base for soils to develop. And, from deep beneath the surface underground rivers bubbled out in a number of springs, bringing valuable nutrients to the surface.

With permanent water assured, animals settled within the confines of the crater. As the water they drank passed through them, it combined with their droppings to nourish the thin layer of soil, creating a massively productive, self-sustaining grassland. In time, both swamp and forest habitats formed – and the stage was set for the largest concentration of large mammals on the planet.

Over time, humans settled in the crater, naming it for the sound of cattle bells that once echoed across the crater floor (ngoro ngoro). While the name persists, human settlements were moved out of the crater to allow the wildlife to flourish, allowing it to become arguably the most sought-after wildlife destination on the planet.

Today, the crater is the centrepiece of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, a World Heritage Site designated in 1959, for both the wildlife biodiversity and the record of prehistoric mankind revealed in places like the Olduvai Gorge. It is nestled between the Serengeti to the west and various game-controlled areas to the east; part of an extensive mixed-use conservation area where the pastoralist Maasai people still live a nomadic existence, in places grazing their cherished cattle alongside free-roaming wildlife.

Within the crater, cattle grazing is not permitted, and it is home to an estimated 25 000 large mammals, including elephants, buffalos, zebra, wildebeest, lions, hyenas, and dozens more species. While the predominant habitat is grassland, there are lakes, marshes, and patches of mixed woodland and forest.

The range of habitats lends itself to a remarkable diversity of species typical to the region, although crocodile, topi, giraffe and impala are conspicuous by their absence within the crater. Of the vast population of wildebeest and zebra, 25% leave the crater during the Serengeti migration, but game viewing is considered excellent all year round. Due to the extremely high density of lions and spotted hyenas, sightings of cheetahs, leopards and African wild dogs are scarce.

Various tourism regulations within the crater distinguish the safari activities from the norm. No walking safaris are allowed and all the vehicles must leave the crater by 16h30, and as such, no night game drives are possible. Visitors can however enjoy these activities and more at locations outside the crater.

There are a few lodges perched on the crater rim, although the majority that visit for safari excursions are generally within an hour’s drive. Long queues at the entrance gates necessitate an early start to maximise your viewing time. Two to three days are suggested to properly explore the crater. There is no airstrip within the crater and the nearest entrance gate is 180 km (110 mi) west of Arusha, where an entrance fee is payable, over and above other transit fees and expenses along the way.

ACTIVITIES

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.

The wildlife experience offered by the Ngorongoro Crater all year round seldom fails to impress. Aside from a slight seasonal shift in the population during the Great Migration that takes place beyond the crater, the wildlife has little incentive to leave the area, with abundant food and water for both predators and prey.
The total population of large mammals is estimated to be in the region of 25000 individuals.

With such a concentration of animals and a generally flat terrain with dense bush restricted to the base of the surrounding slopes, the wildlife is easy to spot, especially after the rains when the green grass renders most camouflage temporarily obsolete.

Of interest to the majority who visit are the lions, and the crater boasts one of the highest densities of Africa’s apex predator. The unfortunate downside of this is that with little incentive to migrate, inbreeding poses a threat to the population and there are conservation initiatives intent on mitigating this.

While many regard the lions as unquestionable masters of the domain, spotted hyenas are an intelligent and highly sociable adversary found in huge clans. Due to the exceptionally high populations of these two predators, sightings of the other top predators; cheetahs, leopards, and African wild dogs are very scarce, with your best chance of spotting a leopard being in the Lerai Forest on the southern slopes of the crater. The crater offers excellent opportunities to view smaller predators like the long-eared serval.

Mega-herbivores are represented by hippos, buffalo, elephants and black rhinoceros (of which several divide their days between the shade of the Lerai Forest and the wallows at the springs and lakes. Giraffes have never been known to live in the crater, presumably unable to navigate the steep slopes that surround it.

General game species include wildebeest, zebra, warthogs, eland, waterbuck, Grant’s and Thomson’s gazelle. Primates include vervet monkeys and baboons, while tree hyrax and bushbabies share the trees.
Both terrestrial and water birds are well-represented thanks to the diverse habitats including riverine, marsh, grassland and forest.

Due to the semi-confinement caused by the crater wall, for the most part, the wildlife population within the crater is consistently high. During the Dry Season, short grass makes spotting the wildlife easier.

That said, during the Wet Season, the lush grass enhances the visual appeal.

Tourist numbers are high all year round, with a slight dip in numbers in April/May.