WHERE TO VISIT IN TANZANIA

WHERE TO VISIT IN TANZANIA

Ngorongoro Crater

A picture showing Ngorongoro Crater

Ngorongoro Crater is a volcanic caldera in the great rift valley in the Ngorongoro Conservation area in northern Tanzania and is one of the seven wonders in Africa and attracts many tourists. The caldera has an area of 102 square km, measuring 16 and 19 km across. the Crater is said to have been formed about 2.5 million years ago from a large active volcano. The Floor of the Crater is open short grassland covering the area that is used for the pasture of different wildlife occupying the area.

The caldera is included in a UNESCO World Heritage in 1979. Tourism activities in the area started in the early 1930s when large numbers of tourists began visiting the land when supportive infrastructure was built and the region was incorporated into the Ngorongoro Conservation Area in 1959.  The crater is now one of the most Tanzania safari destinations and is one of the areas where the Wild Big 5 is easily observed (Leopards, Lions, Elephants, Rhinos, and Buffalo).

lake Magadi having plenty of Birds in the crater

• This open land is home to animals including elephants, black rhinos, leopards, buffalo, zebras, warthogs, wildebeests,  gazelles, and the largest population of lions in the world.  Interestingly, the area is used by local people to graze their livestock including cattle, goats, and donkeys. 

• The south part of the crater is covered by Lake Magadi, a shallow soda lake ringed by volcanoes inhabited by thousands of great flocks of lesser flamingos. This is also called a Birds paradise hosting more than 500 bird species including Ostrich, Secretary birds among many others.

• Ngorongoro Crater is one of few existing places where human being coexists with animals. The crater is hosting Maasai Pastoralists who live there sharing the land with wildlife mostly for pastures.

Maasai houses in Ngorongoro

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