Spot the big 5 in the Ngorongoro Crater area
Often referred to as the ‘Garden of Eden’, the most famous spot in the NCA is the Ngorongoro Crater. It is blessed with rich grazing grounds, and is full to the brim with over 30,000 animals, from antelopes to predators to birds.
The natural confines of the topography ensure the caldera is crawling with species and every drive is jam-packed with animals. It’s one of the best places to try to see the black rhino and the rest of the Big 5, the lion, the elephant, the buffalo, and the leopard. Although leopards are usually found around the rim and are therefore hard to spot.
Witness the birthing of thousands of wildebeest on the Ndutu Plains
Thousands of wildebeest give birth on the Ndutu Plains each year at the start of the long rains. Due to the sheer number of births, most survive and soon start the clockwise motion of the annual wildebeest migration. It is an incredible experience with lots of predators in the area and a highlight for many people.
Step back in time at Olduvai Gorge
Olduvai Gorge is the prehistoric hotbed of early man. Often cited as the ‘cradle of mankind’ this stretch of a ravine in the Rift Valley was one of the hangouts for our oldest ancestors, the world’s first humans! In fact, various different hominid species from over three million years of continuous inhabitation have been discovered in this archaeological goldmine.
Find out how man’s use of tools led to a bigger brain, creating a significant advantage in a world of survival of the fittest. There is a fascinating museum dedicated to all the finds of ancient man plus extinct animals and also the famous footprints of our earliest relatives walking upright.
Visit a Maasai village for an introduction to life as it has been for centuries
NCA is a good place for a cultural visit. Whilst they might feel touristy, it does provide great insight into the way of life as it has been for many centuries and continues to this day. The Maasai are an iconic symbol of Tanzanian tribal living, with mud huts, initiation ceremonies, drinking of milk and blood, spears, fancy jewelry, and an impressive dance routine. Join them for a dance and see if you can jump as high as the Maasai warriors.
Explore the other two craters in the NCA, Olmoti, and Empakai
They may not be as famous as its bigger cousin Ngorongoro to the south, but Olmoti and Empakai are well worth a visit. Empakai is filled with a lake in its crater and attracts lots of water birds, including flamingos. The view from the rim, 300m above the crater lake, is spectacular, but you can also walk down into the crater for a close-up experience. Olmoti has grasslands in its shallow crater and from the east of the crater, it is possible to walk to the rim in around an hour. From the rim, you can walk to the Munge waterfall.
Hiking in the Ngorongoro Crater area
As the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA) is not a national park, it is possible to go hiking in this vast and beautiful area. Day hikes are possible, as well as long overnight hikes. You can even hike the length of the NCA, starting in the south at Lake Eyasi and continue to Lake Natron and Oldonyo Lengai north of the NCA. The only place in this vast area where you can’t hike is inside the Ngorongoro Crater.
