Ngorongoro Conservation Area - Africa Natural Tours ( africanaturaltours.com )
Ngorongoro
Conservation Area:
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Ngorongoro Conservation Area
The
Ngorongoro Conservation Area stretches from the Crater Highlands up to the
Serengeti and the northern shore of Lake Eyasi. The Ngorongoro Crater was
created by the same volcanic movements which also formed the Great Rift Valley,
was once as high as Mount Kilimanjaro. Approximately 3 million years ago
Ngorongoro erupted, covering the Serengeti with ash, leaving a large crater in the
centre of the mountain. The Ngorongoro Crater is the largest intact caldera in
the world, with a diameter of about 18 km and an area of 260 km2. The steep
crater ridge is more than 600m at its highest point.
The
crater floor is an earthly paradise and, with about 30,000 animals, one of the
most populous wildlife areas in the world. Because the area is enclosed and the
flat crater floor is mainly open grassland, it is easy to manage, with the
result that it is a stronghold of endangered species, including the black rhino
and the cheetah. There are no giraffes, topi or impala in the crater. These
animals find the rocky areas too difficult to use and there is insufficient
grass for large herds of antelope. The main prey animals are wildebeest, zebra
and buffalo and the main predators are the lions and spotted hyenas. In the
open savannah a hunt can be followed quite easily, and is especially
interesting as it seems that in Ngorongoro, contrary to what one might expect,
the hyenas are the aggressive hunters and the lions are the carrion eaters.
Lake Magadi, located in the southwest, is a large shallow soda lake where
countless flamingos and other water fowl live alongside the hippopotamuses.
Magnificent
as it is, the Ngorongoro Crater is only a small fragment of the Ngorongoro
Conservation Area, and among the areas other attractions are two lesser-known
craters, Olmoti and Empakaai. The added attraction of visiting these craters is
that you can either walk or drive all the way to the foot of Olmoti, or the rim
of Empakaai. Olmoti rises to 3073m at its western rim, which can be reached by
walking through bush and grassy tussocks often bedecked with flowers. An
additional highlight of the area is the Munge Falls, which flow through a cleft
on the Crater’s southern side. The stream cascades down steep cliffs, hundreds
of metres into a ravine.
From the edge of the crater the road twists downwards towards the Serengeti through rolling grass plains and acacia forests. About 30 kilometres from the crater, there is a narrow road to the Olduvai Gorge. At the site of the gorge, which is approximately 90 metres deep, there was once a lake. Over the years, the lake was covered with thick layers of volcanic ash, which preserved the remains of early humanity. To be so close to where mankind may have begun is an inspiring experience, especially when you see the famous Laetoli footprints, made by early humans some 3.6 million years ago.
From the edge of the crater the road twists downwards towards the Serengeti through rolling grass plains and acacia forests. About 30 kilometres from the crater, there is a narrow road to the Olduvai Gorge. At the site of the gorge, which is approximately 90 metres deep, there was once a lake. Over the years, the lake was covered with thick layers of volcanic ash, which preserved the remains of early humanity. To be so close to where mankind may have begun is an inspiring experience, especially when you see the famous Laetoli footprints, made by early humans some 3.6 million years ago.
How to get to
Ngorongoro crater
BY AIR
One needs to fly to Kilimanjaro International Airport
at Moshi, situated at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro. From there one can get a
charter flight, take a taxi or make use of the free shuttle service. The
distance from Moshi to Arusha is about 55km.
BY ROAD
Take note: The road from Arusha to Lodoare Entrance Gate is 160km long. As of recently, the entire journey is on tarmac and it takes about two hours. Unless you stay on the main roads, which are graveled, a 4×4 vehicle is essential when entering the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and the Serengeti National Park.
What animals to see in
the Ngorongoro Crater
The
Ngorongoro is the best place in Tanzania to see the big five. A healthy
population of black rhino and some of the largest tusker elephants left in
Africa today are the prize spots, but the Crater is also home to strong
populations of lion, leopard and hyena along with good herds of wildebeest,
buffalo and zebra. Other game in the Ngorongoro includes serval cat,
cheetah, jackal, Grant’s and Thompson’s gazelle, flamingo and bat eared foxes
along with approximately 400 species of bird.
What to do in the
Ngorongoro Crater
Activities
inside the Ngorongoro Crater itself are limited to game driving only.
There are also picnic spots in the park. A full range of
activities is however on offer in the wider Ngorongoro Conservation Area,
including walking, trekking, excursions to Olduvai Gorge and visiting the Masai
and other tribes.
When to go in
Ngorongoro crater
Since
the game stays in the crater all year round, there is really no good or bad
time to visit. However given that the crater floor does
get busy with vehicles, it can be more pleasant to visit during low
season. Higher water levels in Lake Magadi (in the center of
the Crater) also result in higher concentrations of flamingoes. Whenever
you travel to Ngorongoro, you will be guaranteed excellent game
viewing
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more information visit www.africanaturaltours.com
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