Explore Ngorongoro Crater on a Tanzania safari : Ngorongoro Crater is located inside the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, which is both a protected area and a world heritage site. It was chosen in 2013 as one of Africa’s Seven Natural Wonders. Indeed, it is among the most well-known locations in Africa. On a Tanzania safari exploring this beautiful attraction offers you unforgettable safari experience with unique sightings.
Lush Grasslands and Plentiful Water.
Situated just 180 kilometers away from Arusha, the Ngorongoro Crater is among the world’s largest intact volcanic calderas. The crater has a diameter of approximately 16 to 19 km, and its walls vary in height from 400 to 600 meters. The Crater’s bottom spans 260 square kilometers and is home to a variety of habitats. These consist of thickets, forests, marshes, and Lake Makat, which is Maasai for “salt” and is a central soda lake that is fed by the Munge River. The fever trees (Acacia xanthophloea) in the Lerai Forest on the crater floor are nourished by the Lerai Stream, which drains the woodlands to the south of the crater.
Ngoitokitok Spring, which is located close to the eastern crater wall, is the other significant water source in the crater. Adjacent to the massive Gorigor Swamp, which is nourished by the spring, is a picnic park in this vicinity that is accessible to visitors. Here, guests can eat lunch with the numerous hippos that live in this marsh. The steep eastern walls of the crater are covered in montane forest, while the western margins are dotted with Euphorbia trees. You won’t realize why the Ngorongoro Crater is a top contender for any list of the greatest natural marvels of the world until you visit it.
Geological Magnificence.
Although the Crater is well known for its breathtaking geology, its main claim to fame is as a natural reserve. Some of Africa’s densest and largest mammal populations can be found in the Ngorongoro Crater. With up to 25,000 huge creatures living there, a journey to the Ngorongoro Crater is sure to provide amazing sightings.
For the majority of the game that lives there, the crater’s confined nature creates the illusion of a natural enclosure, and it has nearly created its own ecosystem. This is untrue, though, since during the rainy season, 50% of the zebra population and nearly 20% of the wildebeest population leave the crater. The opposite occurs during this period, with an increase in herd numbers during the rainy season for Eland and Buffalo.
The crater’s floor is a magnificent basin rich in minerals that supports a profusion of luxuriant, nutrient-rich plants. These attract ungulates such as Buffalo, Thompson and Grants Gazelles, Zebra, Wildebeest, Waterbuck and Eland. However, the crater is home to the largest population of Black Rhinos in East Africa in addition to grazers. Elephant breeding herds are occasionally observed traveling through the crater, but the big bull elephants that live there draw attention. These bulls are regarded as some of the largest tigers still living in Africa. Regrettably, giraffes and impalas are absent from the Crater, which may be because these animals prefer open forests.
Lions.
Large populations of predators will naturally follow herbivores, as one might expect. One of the densest known populations of Maasai lions can be found in the Ngorongoro Crater. However, because of the Natural Enclosure’s effects, numbers have changed throughout time. This can limit the male lions’ ability to travel between sites and increase their susceptibility to illness. The lions are accustomed to seeing game drive cars since there are so many of them that are always around. Because of this, they will hunt near cars or even use the shade that the cars provide.
Here, spotted hyenas are highly prevalent, and it’s not uncommon to witness them vying with lions for the prized prey they have earned. The number of cheetahs in the crater is increasing, and occasionally, leopards are also spotted there. The elusive serval is also frequently spotted there. It’s possible to see jackals pursuing lion prides in search of leftover food, and uncommon sightings of bat-eared foxes.
The quantity of other cars and tourists you will come across is the only drawback. Every traveler to Tanzania aspires to catch a glimpse of this breathtaking natural marvel and the variety of wildlife found there.
