Ngoro Wilds

Nestled in northern Tanzania's Crater Highlands, Ngorongoro Conservation Area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and protected area. Situated in Ngorongoro District, 180 km west of Arusha City in Arusha Region, it showcases the remarkable Ngorongoro Crater, a vast volcanic caldera.

The Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority, a branch of the Tanzanian government, manages the protected region, with its boundaries coinciding with Ngorongoro District in Arusha Region. The park's western part adjoins Serengeti National Park, forming a vast area, including Kenya's Maasai Mara game reserve, renowned for the spectacular Great Migration—an annual spectacle of millions of wildebeest, zebras, gazelles, and other wildlife.

Within the conservation area lies Olduvai Gorge, a globally significant paleoanthropological site. In 2009, the Ngorongoro Wildlife Conservation Act imposed fresh restrictions on human settlement and farming in the Crater, leading to the displacement of Maasai pastoralists, who had been relocated from their ancestral lands to the north during the establishment of Serengeti National Park by the British colonial government in 1959.

How to get there

To reach Ngorongoro, fly to Arusha Airport (ARK), the closest airport. Regional flights from nearby international airports connect to ARK. The drive from Arusha Airport to Ngorongoro Crater is approximately 170 kilometers, taking around 3 hours by car.

Wildlife

Ngorongoro Conservation Area boasts diverse wildlife, including the "big five" (black rhinoceros, elephants, buffaloes, lions, and leopards), carnivores (hyenas, wild dogs, cheetahs), herbivores (migratory wildebeest, elands, zebras, antelopes, and giraffes), primates (velvet monkeys, baboons), and hippos. Most species, except giraffes, inhabit the crater floor and surrounding areas.

Activities

Discover an array of captivating activities in and around Ngorongoro Crater: exhilarating game drives, photographic safaris, delightful picnics, rewarding nature walks, birdwatching, Maasai village visits, awe-inspiring hot air ballooning, exploring Olduvai Gorge, venturing to Empakaai Crater, hiking the Gol Mountains, and conquering the summit of Oldoinyo Lengai.

Best time to visit

Optimal time for Ngorongoro Conservation Area visits is during summer (November-April). Witness migrating birds, flamingos, wildebeests, and zebras grazing near the lake. Be aware of the rainy season, with cool nights.

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