January 17, 2025 | Bujo Safaris
The best time to visit the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Ngorongoro Conservation Area is a UNESCO World Heritage site located in the northern part of Tanzania in the Ngorongoro District covering an area of about 8292sqkm which provides home to about 25,000 mammals including lions, elephants, leopards, buffaloes, black rhinos, wildebeest, zebras, gazelles, hyenas, cheetahs, warthogs, hartebeests, impalas, Thomson's gazelles, Grant's gazelles, ostriches, vultures, flamingos, white-backed vultures, golden jackals, topis, waterbucks, dik-diks, baboons, monkeys, meerkats, and many other and over 550 bird species.
Ngorongoro Conservation area was part of the large Serengeti plains and later was gazetted as a Conservation area in 1979 with over nine craters namely Keramasi, Empakaai, Lolmalasin, Losirua, Olmoti, Ngorongoro, Oldean, Loroklukunya, Sadiman, and Makaruti. Ngorongoro Conservation Area is famous for the Olduvai Gorges where the human skull was first discovered as well as the wildebeest migration traversing through to the Serengeti plains.
Tourist attractions and activities to do in Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
Ngorongoro Conservation Area offers some of the best tourist experiences right away from the unique landscape, diverse wildlife and cultural heritage sites which turn into a life-changing journey for any traveller visiting Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The Park has a variety of tourist activities and attractions which include the following;
Game Drive Safaris: Game drive safaris in Ngorongoro Conservation Area take you through the beautiful panoramic calderas of the region where wildlife of the park can converge to quench their thirst. The game drive safari offers the best wildlife viewing opportunities such as the big five (Lions, Leopards, Rhinos, Elephants and Buffaloes) including other animal species such as Giraffes, Zebras, wildebeests, waterbucks, and kobs among others and landscape.
Olduvai Gorge: Often referred to as the cradle of mankind where fossils and stone tools of early humans were discovered giving you a chance to learn about the evolution and the history of early man.
Bird Watching: The Ngorongoro conservation Area is one of the best birding destinations in Tanzania on a safari drive where you can spot a variety of bird species including ostriches, flamingos, white-backed vultures, golden eagles, lappet-faced vultures, secretary birds, African fish eagles, grey crowned cranes, kori bustards, crowned lapwings, grey herons, lilac-breasted rollers, hornbills, wagtails, red-billed queleas, Marabou storks, yellow-billed storks, red-necked falcons, weaver birds, spur-winged lapwings, lesser kestrels, buff-crested bustards, and various species of shrikes, finches, and hornbills.
Ngorongoro Crater Rim: Ngorongoro Crater is one of the nine craters found in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area offering panoramic views of the caldera.
Cultural Experiences with the Hadzabe Tribe: Visiting the Hadzabe tribe is a unique cultural experience, offering insight into one of the last remaining hunter-gatherer communities in the world. The Hadzabe people are typically hunters and food gathers who go in the park killing wildlife for their survival. According to their culture, Men hunt down animals for food while women gather fruits, plants and honey for food.
Are you planning a safari in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, tourists should be mindful in considering where to stay during their safari in Ngorongoro. Ngorongoro Conservation Area provides a variety of accommodation options that cater to all budgets and preferences, from luxury lodges offering incredible views and service to more budget-friendly campsites for those who want to experience nature up close. Some lodges include Ngorongoro Crater Lodge, Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge, Ngorongoro Wildlife Lodge, Crater Forest Tented Camp, Gibbs Fam, Rhino Lodge, Serena Ngorongoro Safari Lodge, Ngorongoro Crater Campsite and other lodges. Depending on your style, you can enjoy a comfortable, all-inclusive stay or opt for a more rustic, immersive experience.
Ngorongoro Conservation Area can best be visited at any time of the year. However, the best time to Visit Ngorongoro Conservation Area is usually the dry season when wildlife peaks at the water holes and riverbeds.
Dry Season: This is considered the best time for wildlife viewing and game drive safaris where vegetation is less dense, and animals gather at water holes and riverbeds. During this time, the predators are mostly active as the other herbivores are busy quenching their thirst as well as calving thus making it easy to spot a variety of animals during the dry season. Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Wet Season: During this time, the park receives a lot of heavy rains and humidity that facilitate the growth of dense vegetation as well as creating many water holes in the park where wildlife tends to move deeper in the park thus making it difficult to spot wildlife. The wet season creates muddy and slippery roads which make it challenging for the tourist vehicles to navigate through. However, it’s the best time for birdwatching and photography where you can spot a variety of bird species including ostriches, flamingos, white-backed vultures, golden eagles, lappet-faced vultures, secretary birds, African fish eagles, grey crowned cranes, kori bustards, crowned lapwings, grey herons, lilac-breasted rollers, hornbills, wagtails, red-billed queleas, Marabou storks, yellow-billed storks, red-necked falcons, weaver birds, spur-winged lapwings, lesser kestrels, buff-crested bustards, and various species of shrikes, finches, and hornbills.
Ngorongoro Conservation Area can be visited at any time of the year depending on the interests of travellers though the dry season is regarded as the best time to visit the park where you can enjoy a cocktail and mix of wildlife in the park thus creating magical memories on an African Safari. The park is still accessible for wet seasons most especially for low-budget travellers and tourists interested in bird watching.
Getting to Ngorongoro Conservation Area can be both by road and air transport depending on the budget and choice of the traveller. Air transport is the quickest and convenient means of transport as well as saving time for the next safari activities though it comes at an extra cost. Arrive at Arusha Airport and embark on a flight taking 2 to 3 hours to Ngorongoro Conservation Area on arrival, you shall connect to your accommodation by safari as you prepare for the next day’s activities. Alternatively, you can opt to connect to Ngorongoro by safari taking you about 6 hours from Arusha Airport to enter
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