| Ngorongoro Conservation Area | |
 | |
| Area type | Natural reserve |
|---|---|
| State | Tanzania |
| Surface | 265 km² |
| Foundation year | 1959 |
| Institutional website | |
Ngorongoro Conservation Area is a protected natural area of the Tanzania.
To know
The area around the crater constitutes the Ngorongoro nature reserve (Ngorongoro Conservation Area) declared patrimony ofUNESCO.
The Ngorongoro Nature Reserve is administered by the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority, which is an independent body from Tanzania's national park system and administers the area differently; for example, within the NCA the Masai population can live and move freely (which is not the case in any other park in Tanzania).
Local Masai tribes have the right to graze in this area and it may happen to meet them with their livestock.
Geographical notes
It extends over the area of the Ngorongoro caldera located in the Serengeti plain, north-west of the city of Arusha and east of Serengeti National Park.
Ngorongoro Crater is essentially an ancient collapsed volcano and sits 2,200 meters above sea level, measuring over 16km in diameter. It is the largest intact caldera in the world; a natural oasis for the fauna ofEast Africa, and therefore it is rich in a great variety of animals. About 160 km² of savannah completely surrounded by a mountain ring covered by dense jungle.
In addition to the homonymous crater, the Ngorongoro reserve includes two other smaller craters, Olmoti and Empakaai, as well as the very important archaeological site of the Olduvai Gorges.
Flora and fauna
Thanks to the good rainfall, the ponds and the small internal lakes and streams, the night fog that surrounds and feeds the forests of the slopes of the old volcano, the area has become a real ecosystem.
The savannah occupies the innermost area of the crater, alternating with stretches of swamp, patches of acacia and arid semi-desert areas; in the center of the crater there is a lake.
The concentration of fauna in the crater is impressive: it is estimated that it is inhabited by over 25,000 large animals. The most typical image is probably that of the enormous herds of zebras and wildebeests, but most of the typical species of the savannah live in the crater: elephants, lions (present with the densest population of the wholeAfrica), buffaloes, hyenas, jackals, hippos, baboons, cheetahs, as well as some quite rare ones such as black rhinos, the last survivors of a species that in the rest of Tanzania is threatened by extinction, and leopards, which live on the trees of the rainforest that covers the slopes of the crater.
Countless species of birds attracted to the reserve, which with its numerous bodies of water is an attraction for migratory fauna: among them the flamingos deserve a special mention, which here constitute one of the most numerous colonies in all of Africa. Absent the giraffes and impalas.
Background
The Olduvai Gorges are known as the "cradle of humanity". Here were found remains of primitive men dating back to about 1.75 million years ago and various fossils of animals dating back to the Stone Age.
How to get
Most people come to Ngorongoro from Arusha with organized safaris. However, it is cheaper than organizing a safari from Karatu, a city 10 km from the entrances. Here it is possible to arrange a safari with an independent driver / guide, the profit of which will go to you, a Tanzanian individual, rather than a larger safari company, however these vehicles are less reliable and are known to lose pieces when falling during its exploration. This can add or detract from your experience, depending on what you are looking for.
Permits / Rates
For foreigners: USD 50 per person per day. 200 USD per car per day (it is meant for the car only and not a car full of people). Payment is not made by credit card or cash, but only with the TaNaPa prepaid card (Tanzania National Park).
For Tanzanians the prices are 15,000 shillings a day.
How to get around
A single road runs along the crown of the crater on the southern side.
There are four roads that connect the crown with the interior of the crater; the journey takes about 30 minutes by 4WD.
What see
- 1 Gorges of the Olduvai. One of the most important sites for the study of human evolution. There is a small museum with a collection that includes two million year old fossils and stone tools found on site.
- 2 Empakaai Crater. This extraordinary caldera (a collapsed volcano) consists of a ring of rocks that surround, about 300 m below, a salt lake about 6 km in all. Its colors range from vivid turquoise to shimmering navy blue, depending on the time of day and the mood of the sky and its clouds.
- 3 Olmoti Crater. Beautiful landscape for safari excursions. The soil of the Olmoti crater is shallow and covered with tufts of grass. Beyond the Masai and their cattle it is sometimes possible to see buffaloes and various species of antelope.
- 4 Ol Doinyo Lengai. It is an active volcano that lies outside the park to the northeast. It takes a long and difficult drive to reach it.
What to do
Shopping
Where to eat
Where stay
On the edges of the crater there are numerous lodges and even a tented camp.
- Ngorongoro Crater Lodge, ☎ 255 27 252 4295 (office hours), 255 27 254 8268, 255 787 551 108 (emergencies), @[email protected].
USD 1,550 per person per night. Located on the edge of the crater, with great views, it is the most sophisticated hotel in the park, with great rooms and gourmet cuisine. It's expensive and a little quirky, but the service is excellent and the view is magnificent. - Ngorongoro Wildlife Lodge. Lodge.
- Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge, 99 Serengeti Road, Sopa Plaza, PO Box 1823, Arusha, ☎ 255 784 250 630, 255 784 250 631, fax: 255 27 2508245, @[email protected]. It has the best view of the crater and is one of the oldest in the area. It's huge but reasonably priced.
- Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge, ☎ 255 27 254 5555, 255 27 253 7053, fax: 255 272545368, 255 272537056, @[email protected]. Low season (April-May): USD 195 for double rooms and USD 100 for single rooms; high season (June-October and December-January): USD 635 for double rooms and USD 435 for single rooms.. This lodge is great as a base for a moderately priced safari. The view is breathtaking, but if you want to avoid the crowds and go on a real safari, the Serena is what you are looking for.
- [link not working]Gibb's Farm, ☎ 255 27-253 4397, fax: 255 27-253 4418, @[email protected]. In a great location and with a great reputation, but the best rooms are quite expensive, while the standard rooms are well priced, but need some improvement.
- Plantation Lodge, ☎ 255 27 253 44 05, fax: 255 27 253 44 05, @[email protected]. Great atmosphere, great rooms and reasonable prices, but not inside the crater, but on the upper portion of the land. Despite this, it is still a great hotel.
- The Manor, ☎ 255 27 254 3366, @[email protected]. USD 750 per person per night. The Manor is an extremely luxurious hotel. The employees are hospitable and do their best to make your visit a relaxing one. It is not at the top of the crater, which can be uncomfortable, and being a relatively new hotel it is very empty.
- Simba. Tented camp.
USD 1,550 per person per night. Located on the edge of the crater, with great views, it is the most sophisticated hotel in the park, with great rooms and gourmet cuisine. It's expensive and a little quirky, but the service is excellent and the view is magnificent.Safety
How to keep in touch
Around
Other projects
Wikipedia contains an entry concerning Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Commons contains images or other files on Ngorongoro Conservation Area
