11 Days Paradise in the Wilderness – Tanzania Explore: Kilimanjoro, Arusha, Tarangire, Manyara, Serengeti, Ngorongoro. 11 Days Paradise in the Wilderness
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Ngorongoro Conservation Area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Ngorongoro district neighboring Serengeti National Park to the North and the Great East African Rift Valley to the East. The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is named so after the Ngorongoro crater, a large volcanic caldera in the area which got its name from the Maasai pastoralists who named it after the ngoro ngoro sound produced by the cowbells.
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area covers an area of up to more than 8,000 square kilometers and is made up of different attractions including the Ngorongoro Crater, Ndutu area, Olduvai Gorge, Oldongo Lengai Mountain, and the Empakaai and Olmoti crater, both formed as a result of volcanic eruptions. This area is composed of a mixture of forests, grasslands, craters, lakes and swamps hence being home to a wide range of wildlife such as Buffaloes, Elephants, Rhino, Lions, Leopards, Black rhinos, among others.
Amongst the various attractions in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, the major attraction is the Ngorongoro Crater.
Ngorongoro Crater
Except being the major tourist attraction in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, the Ngorongoro crater is one of the seven natural wonders of the Africa. It was formed about 3 million year ago when a large volcano exploded forming a 20 kilometer wide and 600 meters deep caldera. This crater has a wide variety of vegetation and wildlife such as zebras, buffaloes, warthogs, elephants, baboons, hippos, among others. The beauty of this crater is in the numerous wildlife that live in it, the magnificent landscape, wetlands and Lake Magadi that gets its water from the Munge River.
The Ngorongoro crater is also one of the homes to the warrior Maasai tribe of Southern Kenya and Northern Tanzania. The Maasai live in this crater where they rear their livestock that feed on the vegetation.
Best time to visit the Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Ngorongoro Conservation Area can be visited throughout the year however the best time to visit this area can depend on what one is interested in. For the best wildlife experience, it’s advisable to visit the Ngorongoro Conservation Area during the dry seasons. This is because during these times of the year the grass is shorter and the wildlife can easily be spotted.
For the best birding experience in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, the best to visit is the wet season since during the time of the year both the resident birds and the migratory birds are in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
If crowds aren’t your thing, then the wet season is the best time for you to visit the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. This is during these months there are fewer crowds and as a result the safari costs are cheaper too due to discounted rates on accommodation.
Activities in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Game drives
Game drives are one of the most done activities in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area due to its abundant flora and fauna. Game drives in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area are done in places that include; the Ngorongoro crater, Empakaai crater, Olmoti crater, Ndutu area and the Oldongo Lengai Mountain. While each of these destinations is unique, a game drive in the Ngorongoro crater is the most popularly done and will give you one of the best game drive experiences.
The Ngorongoro crater provides countless opportunities to spot several wildlife from the time of descend into the crater and throughout the game drive. Along with the wildlife, one also spots a variety of bird species such as the black kite, grey crowned-crane, Kori bustard, Capped wheatear, among others and numerous plant species.
Guided nature walk safaris
This is one of the once in a life-time opportunities worth experiencing. It gives you an opportunity to explore nature closely and intimately. With the key word as guided, these walks are usually done in the company of an armed ranger.
During the guided nature walks, you will enjoy the spectacular landscapes, magnificent wildlife, and the different local tribes such as the Maasai, Datoga and Hadzabe. One of the best walking safaris is one done on the Ngorongoro crater rim, one of the world’s unbroken calderas.
Other than this, other destinations perfect for a guided nature walk is the Empakaai crater, Olmoti crater, mount Makarot, mount Lolmalasin, Ndutu area, Nasera Rock, Gol Mountains, Olduvai Gorge, the elephant caves in the northern highland forest reserve of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, among others. These walks are categorized as short walks that last for about 4 hours or less and long walks that last for more than 4 hours.
Archaeological tours
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is one of the best destinations for an archaeological tour. This area comprises some of the world’s best archaeological sites with preserved material and interesting information worth learning. These sites are visited for purposes of learning, research or even leisure.
One of the most famous sites in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area is the Olduvai Gorge, known for being one of the most important pale anthropological sites in the world. Other archaeological sites in this area include the Laetoli Footprints, Engaresero Footprints, Mumba caves and Engaruka.
Cultural tours
A cultural tour in the Ngorongoro conservation area is another amazing experience one should not miss on a safari to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. It gives one an opportunity to learn and experience the lifestyle of some of the most famous and ancient local tribes which include the Datoga, Hadzabe and the Maasai with the most prominent being the Maasai warriors.
The Datoga and Hadzabe tribes neighbor one another and share a harmonious relationship. This is because the Datoga tribe practice pastoralism and possess great blacksmith skills thus are able to provide the Hadzabe tribe who mainly practice hunting and gathering with spear heads for making hunting spears.
A visit to the Maasai tribe gives tourists an opportunity to learn about their rich culture, traditions, as well engage in their famous dance of jumping.
Botanical tours
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is enriched with hundreds of flora species with beautifully blooming flower species and leaves. These variety of plant species are perfect for education purposes, exhibition, and scientific research purposes. It is a great place to visit more so if you are interested in Botany and environmental change and conservation.
Birding safari
If you are a bird lover, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area is one of the destinations to visit. Also referred to as a bird’s paradise, this area hosts over 550 bird species in its grassland plains, lakes and matches some of which are permanent resident birds while others migratory birds. The migratory birds that come to this area include white storks, yellow wagtails, among others whereas the resident birds include flamingos, stilts, saddle-billed storks, ibises, Rufous Turaco, Hornbill, and flamingos that inhabit lake Magadi, among others.
Photographic safari
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is one of the best photographic destinations due to its dense woodlands, grassland plains, craters, lakes, waterfalls, highlands, and magnificent wildlife which are beautiful to view as well as great memories to keep. Since off-track driving is not allowed on the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, photographers are encouraged to carry telescopic lenses so as to get better photographs. Taking photos of the locals along the roads is prohibited but can be done on a visit to their local communities.
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