Welcome to Ngorongoro
1.
Ngorongoro Conservation Area
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA) is a
protected area and a World Heritage Site located 180 km (110 mi) west of Arusha
in the Crater Highlands area of Tanzania. The area is named after Ngorongoro Crater,
a large volcanic caldera within the area. The conservation area is administered
by the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority, an arm of the Tanzanian
government, and its boundaries follow the boundary of the Ngorongoro Division
of the Arusha Region.
It has been reported in 2009 that the
government authority has proposed a reduction of the population of the
conservation area from 65,000 to 25,000. There are plans being considered for
14 more luxury tourist hotels, so people can access "the unparalleled
beauty of one of the world's most unchanged wildlife sanctuaries.
Ngorongoro was named by the Maasai as
El-Nkoronkoro meaning Gift of Life.
This was because they were migrating from Central Africa for a permanent
settlement. That is why the Ngorongoro Conservation Area is mostly occupied by
the Maasai. Based on fossil evidence found at the Olduvai Gorge, various
hominid species have occupied the area for 3 million years.
Hunter-gatherers were replaced by
pastoralists a few thousand years ago. The Mbulu came to the area about 2,000
years ago and were joined by the Datooga around the year 1700. Both groups were
driven from the area by the Maasai in the 1800s.
Land in the conservation area is multi-use
and unique because it is the only conservation area in Tanzania that protects
wildlife while allowing human habitation. Land use is controlled to prevent
negative effects on the wildlife population. For example, cultivation is
prohibited at all but subsistence levels.
The area is part of the Serengeti ecosystem
and, to the northwest, adjoins the SNP and is contiguous with the southern
Serengeti plains. These plains also extend to the north into the unprotected
Loliondo division and are kept open to wildlife through transhumance
pastoralism practiced by the Maasai. The south and west of the area are
volcanic highlands, including the famous Ngorongoro Crater and the lesser known
Empakaa Crateri. The southern and eastern boundaries are approximately defined
by the rim of the East African Rift wall, which also prevents animal migration
in these directions.
2.
Ngorongoro Crater
The main feature of the Ngorongoro
Conservation Authority is the Ngorongoro Crater, the world's largest inactive,
intact and unfilled volcanic caldera. The crater, which formed when a large
volcano exploded and collapsed on itself two to three million years ago, is 610
metres (2,000 feet) deep and its floor covers 260 square kilometres (100 square
miles). Estimates of the height of the original volcano range from 4,500 to
5,800 metres (14,800 to 19,000 feet) high. The elevation of the crater floor is
1,800 metres (5,900 feet) above sea level. The Crater was voted by Seven
Natural Wonders as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa in Arusha,
Tanzania in February 2013. Wonder how much you need to come to Ngorongoro
Creator and see the beauty of Tanzania.
The crater highlands on the side facing the
easterly trade winds receives 800 to 1,200 millimetres (31 to 47 inches) of
rain a year and are covered largely in montane forest. The less-steep west wall
receives only 400 to 600 millimetres (16 to 24 inches) and is grassland and
bushland dotted with Euphorbia busses (es) trees. The crater floor is mostly
open grassland with two small wooded areas dominated by fever tree.
3.
Olduvai Gorge
The spectacular landscape of northern
Tanzania, where Olduvai Gorge is situated, is the product of both abrupt
high-energy processes like volcanism and plate tectonics and the slower
low-energy processes of weathering and erosion operating together over millions
of years. During this time, climate has varied from arid to semi-arid and the
vegetation and animal populations both fluctuated with the availability of
water. Feedback between climate and topography is particularly important in
regions of high relief like the East African Rift System (EARS). The modern
topography in northern Tanzania is the summation of the interaction of
geologic, biologic, and hydrologic processes. Over time these processes have
sculpted the Earth surface by erosion of high areas and the transport and
deposition of this material into low areas.
Olduvai Gorge was created by the erosion of
an incised valley draining water from the Ndutu lake into the OlBalBal
depression located at the foot of Ngorongoro. It is part of the Serengeti
migratory ecosystem. Erosion has carved its way through different geological
strata spanning two million years; from the emergence of the genus Homo to the
appearance of our species Homo sapiens. The gorge contains one of the richest
and best preserved archaeological and paleontological records for the study of
human evolution.
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area also protects Oldupai Gorge, situated in the plains area. It is considered to be the seat of humanity after the discovery of the earliest known specimens of the human genus, Homo habilis as well as early hominidae, such as Paranthropus boisei.
The Oldupai Gorge is a steep-sided ravine
in the Great Rift Valley, which stretches along eastern Africa in Tanzania.
Oldupai is in the eastern Serengeti Plains in northern Tanzania and is about 50
kilometres (31 mi) long. It lies in the rain shadow of the Ngorongoro highlands
and is the driest part of the region. The gorge is named after 'Oldupai', the
Maasai word for the wild sisal plant.
It is one of the most important prehistoric
sites in the world and research there has been instrumental in furthering
understanding of early human evolution. Excavation work there was pioneered by
Mary and Louis Leakey in the 1950s and is continued today by their family. Some
believe that millions of years ago, the site was that of a large lake, the
shores of which were covered with successive deposits of volcanic ash. Around
500,000 years ago seismic activity diverted a nearby stream which began to cut
down into the sediments, revealing seven main layers in the walls of the gorge.
4.
Wildlife Within Ngorongoro Creator
Approximately 25,000 large animals, mostly
ungulates, live in the crater. Large animals in the crater include the black
rhinoceros, the local population of which declined from about 108 in 1964-196,
the African buffalo or Cape buffalo, and the hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibious).
There also are many other ungulates: the blue wildebeest (7,000 estimated in
1994), Grant's zebra (4,000), the common eland, and Grant's and Thomson's
gazelles (3,000).
Waterbucks occur mainly near Lerai Forest.
There are no topis, or crocodiles. Impala are absent because the open woodland
they prefer does not exist. Giraffe also are absent, possibly because of a lack
of browse species. Tanzanian cheetah, East African wild dog, and African
leopard are rarely seen.
Although thought of as "a natural
enclosure" for a very wide variety of wildlife, 20 percent or more of the
wildebeest and half the zebra populations vacate the crater in the wet season. Buffalo
(Syncerus caffer) and eland do the opposite. Their highest numbers are during
the rains.
Since 1986, the crater's wildebeest
population has fallen from 14,677 to 7,250 (2003-2005). The numbers of eland
and Thomson's gazelle also have declined while the buffalo population has
increased greatly, probably due to the long prevention of fire which favours high-fibrous
grasses over shorter, less fibrous types.
Lake Magadi, a large lake in the southwest
of the crater, is often inhabited by thousands of mainly lesser flamingoes.
5.
Outside Ngorongoro
Crater
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA) has
a healthy resident population of most species of wildlife. The Ndutu Lake area
to in the west of the NCA has particularly strong cheetah and lion populations.
Common in the NCA are hartebeest (Alcelaphus
buselaphus), spotted hyenas (Crocuta
crocuta), and jackals. The population of African wild dog in the NCA may
have declined recently. Servals occur widely on the plains to the west of the
Ngorongoro Crater.
The annual ungulate migration passes
through the NCA, with 1.7 million wildebeest, 260,000 zebras, and 470,000
gazelles moving south into the area in December and moving north in June. This
movement changes seasonally with the rains, but the migration traverses almost
the entire plains in search of food.
6.
Neptune Ngorongoro Luxury Lodge
Neptune Ngorongoro Luxury Lodge Set in 50
acres of virgin Tanzanian bush in the Ngorongoro volcanic landscape
This all suites wood log cabin style
retreat is located a few steps from the Game Reserve Gate and 20 minutes’ drive
away from the Ngorongoro Crater that is said to have the densest concentration
of wildlife in Africa.
Neptune Ngorongoro Luxury Lodge is an
all-inclusive property features 20 spacious private log cabins with fire place,
a restaurant, a bar and conference facilities. Indulge in moments of relaxation
at the swimming pool or at the (Mvua) African Rain Spa after a full-day game
drive.
Facilities in
Neptune Ngorongoro Luxury Lodge suite include:
King Size canopy bed with fine linens
Butler on call
En- suite facilities with solar water
heating
Spacious bathroom
Large shower
Two hand wash basins
Private WC
Comfortable living room with armchairs,
sofa bed and coffee table
In-room safe
7.
Ngorongoro Crater Lodge
Ngorongoro Crater Lodge is an award-winning
lodge and is fit for a king and queen.
Why
Visit
Situated on the rim of the beautiful
Ngorongoro Crater
Spectacular Crater views from everywhere in
the suites, including the bathroom
Ornate architecture
Rich wildlife experience on the Crater
floor
Experience Maasai and cattle living among
the wildlife
Fresh springs and large soda lake within
the Crater
Seasonal sightings of flamingo on the soda
lake
8.
Ngorongoro Farm House
Ngorongoro Farm House was inaugurated on
February 20th 2003, and is offering 52 room cottages, 49 standard rooms and 3
suite rooms, all with ample space inside, built on the style of an old colonial
farm and rustically decorated with local materials and full of details of good
taste, with the purpose of offering our clients an imaginary journey to the
life of the days gone.
Ngorongoro Farm House is a perfect stopover
within any safari in the Northern Circuit of Tanzania and a privileged place to
visit the Crater or enjoy a bunch of activities: Like a walking safari to the
adjacent forest leading to the Oldeani Volcano or an excursion to the nearby
Lake Eyasi in the Rift Valley, still inhabited by a tribe of hunter-gatherers,
the Hadzabe, a relic of ancient times who still follow a style of life similar
to the humans who inhabited the Earth before the discovery of agriculture.
Another interesting tribe are the Datoga or
Barabaig, also called Mangati (fierce enemy) by the Maasai who expelled them
from the Ngorongoro Highlands during their unstoppable advance to the south
some time in the 19th century.
A visit to the village of Karatu or the Njia Panda school, rehabilitated with the contributions of our clients, can also make the day of anyone interested in cultural interaction or in helping to the development of the rural communities of Africa.
9.
Ngorongoro Rhino Lodge
Ideally
located on the edge of the Ngorongoro crater rim, Ngorongoro Rhino Lodge offers
a perfect base from which to explore the Ngorongoro crater and its
surroundings.
Ngorongoro Rhino Lodge is ideally located
on the edge of the Ngorongoro crater rim. The Lodge was originally the home of
Ngorongoro’s first conservator, and its developers have maintained the house’s
original rustic, low-impact style and natural setting. Ngorongoro Rhino Lodge
offers a perfect base from which to explore the Ngorongoro crater and its
surroundings. Game drives into the crater, and, for the more adventurous,
walking safaris in the forest reserve and visits to nearby Maasai villages, can
all be arranged from the lodge. And, on return after a long day, 24 comfortable
en suite rooms with forest views, a cozy living space, friendly local staff and
generous African-inspired meals offer guests a warm welcome home.
10.
Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge
One
of The Best Hotels In The World
Regularly voted one of the best hotels in
the world, Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge in Tanzania clings to the rim of the
magnificent Ngorongoro Crater, the largest and most perfect volcanic crater on
Earth. Long and low, Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge is built from local river
stone and camouflaged with indigenous vines. Designed to blend completely into
the landscape, it is entirely invisible from the floor of the Crater 600 metres
below.
Known as ‘the eighth wonder of the world’
the Ngorongoro Crater is one of Africa’s best-known wildlife arenas. A UNESCO
World Heritage Site, it offers a unique biosphere, which has remained virtually
unchanged since the dawn of time. Deep within the Crater, enclosed by towering
walls, some 25,000 large mammals wander the plains, lakes and forests of ‘the
land that time forgot’, dominated by enormous bull elephants, rhinos and lions.
Getting to Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge
The Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area,
lies immediately adjac ent to the Serengeti National Park and 180 kilometres
from Arusha.
By road: transfers by road from Arusha take
approximately 4 hours.
By air: there is an adjacent airstrip and a
‘meet and greet’ and transfer service is offered.
Facilities at Ngorongoro Serena Safari
Lodge
75 rock-built rooms with panoramic private
balconies
Rock built dining room and bar with central
fire
Extensive viewing terraces
Game drives into the Crater daily
Wedding planning and honeymoon venue
Gift shop, business centre, Wi-Fi
Tented conference centre
Extensive selection of sports and
activities
Cultural dance and music
TV room with satellite TV.
11.
Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge
Facing the always magnificent sunsets to
the west, and located at the highest point on Ngorongoro crater’s entire rim,
Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge stands well over half a kilometre above the crater floor
and offers unparalleled views across this enormous caldera.
Ngorongoro National Park
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