Tanzania | Ngorongoro Krater
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area in the north of Tanzania houses more than 25,000 animals and - with its astounding nature and fantastic views - is a small piece of heaven on earth. The highlights include the Ngorongoro Crater, the six ever-visible mountain peaks, the pink flamingo covering of the crater lake and the massive herds of game.
Ngorongoro Conservation Area is located around 180 kilometres west of Arusha National Park and is roughly the same size as the island of Crete. If you have never been, you have not seen the real Africa.
Ngorongoro Conservation Area is known as the Eighth Wonder of the World because of the diversity of landscapes, people and archaeological finds, unrivalled across all of Africa. It's with good reason that UNESCO added this area to its World Heritage List. The countless volcanoes, grass plains, mountain forests and waterfalls are home not only to the Masai, but also to a large variety of game. Ngorongoro Conservation Area is the only reserve in Tanzania where the Masai live among the game.
The most important place of interest within this nature reserve is of course the Ngorongoro Crater, which - with a cross-section measuring 16 kilometres and a depth of 600 metres - is the largest in the world. The steep sides of the crater (260 km2) provide a natural habitat for an estimated 25,000 wild animals, including the Big Five: lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes and black rhinos. You will also encounter gazelle and wildebeest, as well as every other type of wild animals found in eastern Africa. The crater lake, Lake Makat, provides a habitat for thousands of flamingos, which cover the lake like a pink blanket.
The local government restricts the amount of tourism in order to prevent Ngorongoro from becoming a zoo. There are strict regulations about getting out of vehicles on safari, but considering the high concentration of game, this will not detract from your safari enjoyment in the slightest. The temperature can heat up once the sun has risen above the edge of the crater, in which case you can sit, relax and reflect on your adventures while enjoying a picnic alongside the hippo pond.
We can also recommend taking an evening stroll around the edge of the crater. Views over the Serengeti on the one side and the extinct volcano far below on the other are guaranteed to leave you dumbfounded. Relax and watch the sun setting over this incredible scene while enjoying a drink. Does life get much better...?
