Ngorongoro CraterThe Ngorongoro Crater is one of Africa’s most famous sites and is said to have the highest density of wildlife in Africa. Sometimes described as an ‘eighth wonder of the world’, the Crater has achieved world renown, attracting an ever-increasing number of visitors each year. You are unlikely to escape other vehicles here, but you are guaranteed great wildlife viewing in a genuinely mind-blowing environment. There is nowhere else in Africa quite like Ngorongoro!
The Ngorongoro Crater is the world's largest intact volcanic caldera. Forming a spectacular bowl of about 265 square kilometres, with sides up to 600 metres deep; it is home to approximately 30,000 animals at any one time. The Crater rim is over 2,200 metres high and experiences its own climate. From this high vantage point it is possible to make out the tiny shapes of animals making their way around the crater floor far below. Swathes of cloud hang around the rocky rim most days of the year and it's one of the few places in Tanzania where it can get chilly at night.
The crater floor consists of a number of different habitats that include grassland, swamps, forests and Lake Makat (Maasai for ‘salt’) - a central soda lake filled by the Munge River. All these various environments attract wildlife to drink, wallow, graze, hide or climb. Although animals are free to move in and out of this contained environment, the rich volcanic soil, lush forests and spring source lakes on the crater floor (combined with fairly steep crater sides) tend to incline both grazers and predators to remain throughout the year. Ngorongoro Crater: Wildlife Highlights
Ngorongoro Crater is one of the most likely areas in Tanzania to see the endangered Black Rhino, as a small population is thriving in this idyllic and protected environment. It is currently one of the few areas where they continue to breed in the wild. Your chances of encountering leopard here are also good, and fabulous black-maned lions. Many flamingos are also attracted to the soda waters of Lake Magadi.
Ngorongoro Crater: Maasai village trips Part of the reason behind the Ngorongoro Conservation Area has been to preserve the environment for the Maasai people who were diverted from the Serengeti Plains. Essentially nomadic people, they build temporary villages in circular homesteads called bomas. There are possibilities to visit a couple of these now, which have been opened up for tourists to explore. Here you can see how the huts are built in a strict pattern of order according to the chronological order of the wives, and experience what it must be like to rely on warmth and energy from a fire burning at the heart of a cattle dung dwelling with no chimney. These proud cattle herding people have a great history as warriors, and even though they are no longer allowed to build villages inside, they continue to herd their cattle into the crater to graze and drink, regardless of the predators nearby. Ngorongoro Crater: Accommodation choices
The hotel everyone is attracted to here is the famous Ngorongoro Crater Lodge. There is no doubt that this is the best lodge at the Crater, by a very long way….but then at $1,600pppn one would hope so! People come to Tanzania just to stay here. The other hotels on the Crater rim are the Serena, Sopa and Wildlife. All of which are large hotels of questionable character, but with absolutely stunning views. We prefer the Serena or Sopa to the Wildlife. However, if you’re happy to stay off the Crater rim then one of the stunning coffee plantations of Plantation Lodge or Gibbs Farm in nearby Karatu give you access to the Crater, albeit by a 1.5 hour drive and keeps you away from the crowds. They have much more charm than any of the 4* hotels on the Crater rim and a much better price tag than Crater lodge!
Recommended lodges in this area:
Ngorongoro Crater
Ngorongoro Crater Lodge is spectacular, opulent, rich and wonderfully quirky. With an unparalelled location on the Crater rim, this flagship &Beyond property sets out to blur the boundaries between reality and dream.
Ngorongoro Crater
The Ngorongoro Serena is a great lodge to use as a well-priced base for safaris in the Crater. The views are utterly breathtaking, and its location on the Crater rim earns it a good rating. However, for those of us who prefer to avoid the crowds and have an authentic safari, the Serena is not the best place to stay.
Ngorongoro Crater
The Ngorongoro Sopa is a large 4 star hotel with the best views of the Ngorongoro Crater itself. With 85 rooms it is one of the largest on the Crate rim, catering well for the group market and also the more budget traveler wanting a good value hotel to use as a base.
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