Ngorongoro Conservation Area in Tanzania is often called the 8'th wonder of
the world for its remarkable wildlife and incredible natural beauty. This travel
destination is situated in a Conservation Area, 180 km west of Arusha and spread
in an area of 8,288 square km. Ngorongoro Conservation Area area was once a part of Serengeti National
Park but in 1959 it was declared a conservation area, it further became a became
a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979.
It is also close to the Lake Manyara National park. Millions of years ago Ngorongoro was almost the size of Mount Kilimanjaro with volcanic activity. Once the volcanic activity subsided the surface collapsed forming a 610 meter deep crater which is spread out in a area of 265 square Km, the stalking ground of around 20,000 to 30,000 wild animals at any one time.. The 16 km diameter unbroken caldera is the largest in the world. The formation of the crater and highlands are associated with massive rifting which occurred to the west of the Great Rift Valley.
In the Crater Highlands, local tribes are permitted to maintain their traditional lifestyles in as natural environment as possible, they wear traditional attire, herding sheep and goats. There are quite a few camps and lodges on the crater so that tourists can have good view of the crater floor. There are more than 500 bird species and over 100 mammal species including hippo, elephants, wildebeest, zebra and cape buffalo. Ngorongoro Conservation Area is also the only place in the country where you will find a consistent view of black Rhino. Lake Magadi invites lot of flamingoes making it a perfect tourism spot.
These highlands wake up to a misty fog in most months, other than the high dry season during December and January. The Crater rim, over 2,200 meters high, touches swathes of clouds for most days of the year. The small caldera ensures a rewarding safari ideal for adventure travelers. In summer enormous numbers of Serengeti migrants pass through the plains of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, including 1.7 million wildebeest, 260,00 zebra and 470,000 gazelles. Ngorongoro is truly a great travel location in Tanzania.
