Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Few places in Africa rival the breathtaking beauty and ecological richness of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area in Tanzania. Situated in the northern Tanzania Safari circuit between the Serengeti National Park and the Great Rift Valley, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area is the second most popular wildlife safari destination in Tanzania. It is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site in recognition of its incredible biodiversity and for hosting the world’s largest intact volcanic caldera, Ngorongoro Crater. The Ngorongoro Crater is an ancient natural amphitheatre that teems with large concentrations of wildlife all year round in Tanzania. What truly make the Ngorongoro Crater unique? The crater is the “Eighth Wonder of the World,” and  is one of the places on earth where visitors are guaranteed excellent wildlife viewing during African Safari tours in Tanzania. From viewing the iconic African Big Animals (lion, leopard, rhino, buffalo, and elephant) to witnessing its stunning ecological zones and spectacular scenery, a safari to Tanzania’s Ngorongoro Conservation Area is truly unforgettable.

Unlike most National Parks in Tanzania (Wildlife Destinations in Tanzania), the Ngorongoro Conservation Area is a unique multiple-use protected area. Since it was established as a conservation area and not a National Park (after a split from the Serengeti National Park in 1959), it intended to accommodating the local population and their pastoralism lifestyle and up to date, it is one of the few places in the world where humans co-exist with wildlife. The local Maasai people that have inhabited this area for centuries are known to live in harmony with other inhibitors of the region especially wildlife. This rare coexistence at Ngorongoro of conservation, culture, and sustainable pastoralism by the local Masai people makes the Ngorongoro Conservation Area one of the few places in the world where you can experience Africa’s remarkable wildlife and the rich culture on a single African Safari Tour/Tanzania Holiday Tour. Explore Tanzania on your next African safari holiday and visit the iconic Ngorongoro Conservation Area for opportunities to see the iconic African Big Five (lion, leopard, rhino, buffalo, and elephant) and the astonishing Ngorongoro Crater. Email us, WhatsApp us or Fill in our inquiry form today and our experts at Nirvana Safaris will tailor make your journey to better suit your interests.

All you need to know about Ngorongoro Conservation Area in Tanzania (Facts, Etymology, Location, & Size)

Just like I mentioned earlier, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area is located in northern Tanzania, approximately 180 kilometres (112 miles) west of Arusha City, one of the most popular tourism cities in the country and is part of the famous Tanzania Northern Safari Circuit protected Areas. The Ngorongoro shares its western boundary with iconic Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park, the two creating a larger diverse ecosystem in the region. It is also near the Lake Manyara National Park which is found on the Eastern part of the Conservation Area.  It is located within the Ngorongoro District of the Arusha Region, situated between 2°30′ and 3°30′ South latitude and 34°50′ and 35°55′ East longitude, with the centre of the Ngorongoro Crater located at approximately 3.16° South, 35.59° East.

Unlike the Serengeti National Park that is managed by the Tanzania National Park Authority (TANAPA), the Ngorongoro is managed by the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority (NCAA). The area covered by Ngorongoro includes some historical sites, especially the Olduvai Gorge, one of the most important paleoanthropological sites in the world. This conservation Area was named by the local Masai People who have inhibited this region for centuries.  Its name is believed to originate from the Maasai word “El-Nkoronkoro,” that imitates the rhythmic sound of the large cowbells usually worn by Maasai cattle. It is believed that while on the higher altitude areas, you could hear the distinctive ngor ngor chime that echoed across the region.

History & Establishment of Ngorongoro Conservation Area in Tanzania

This Conservation Area is one of the best safari destinations in Tanzania with it known for have been inhabited by various hominid. The fossil evidence found at the Olduvai Gorge, is said to date back to at least 1.75 million years. This area has been inhabited by a number of people including the hunter-gatherers who were replaced by pastoralists a few thousand years ago. It is believed that th Iraqw people arrive and settled in the Ngorongoro 2,000 years ago. They were later joined by the Datooga around the year 1700. However, in the 1800s, they were both driven away by the currently largest occupants of the region, Maasai People.

Before 1892, this place was un known to the Europeans. However, on 18 March 1892, Austrian explorer, cartographer, and ethnographer Oscar Baumann became the first recorded European to reach the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater rim during his expedition through then German East Africa. In his journal, Baumann described looking down into “the oblong bowl, the remains of an old crater,” whose floor was “alive with game.” Being the first European to visit this region, his map and remarks are said to have inspired other explores and hunters to visit the region and thus drawing the international attention to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

After about twelve years from the time Oscar Baumann visited the region, two Germany brothers Adolph and Friedrich Siedentopf visited the area and requested for permeation to carry out farming in the region from the East Africa Germany Administration. By 1904, the two brothers had developed one of the big farms in Africa, raising thousands of cattle and sheep. They also did cultivation of wheat and other crops. They were the very first to build the first access tracks into the crater, following an elephant trail. They occupied the land on lease basis and are greatly remembered for their regular shooting parties that they usually organized to entertain their German friends. They are also remembered for their attempt to drive the wildebeest herds out of the crater.

After the outbreak of the World War I in 1914–1916, the German settlers were forced to leave Tanganyika after British forces took control of the territory. Once the administration of Tanganyika was under the British rule, the whole area was managed by the British. As a Result various game preservation ordinances which restricted hunting were enacted in various areas in Tanzania (then Tanganyika) starting in 1921 and by 1930, Ngorongoro Crater was also included.

The National Park Ordinance of 1948, popularly known for the splitting of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area from the Serengeti National Park was enacted however was not implemented until 1959 after the borders were clearly gazette. Contrary to the Serengeti which was primarily created for conservation purposes and as a National Park, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Ordinance (1959) that separated the Ngorongoro Conservation Area from Serengeti National Park secured land rights for the pastoralist Maasai people in the Conservation Area in an attempt to preserve their pastoralism lifestyle.

More About the History of Ngorongoro

Since the Serengeti was dedicated to wildlife conservation, the Maasai people living in Serengeti National Park were relocated to Ngorongoro Conservation Area, increasing the population of Maasai people living in this part of Tanzania. It also increased the disputes between the Tanzania government and the Maasai people.

Unlike National Parks, Conservation Areas are multi-use area. And in this case the Ngorongoro Conservation Area under the Management of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority caters to the pastoral Maasai people and their cultural values as well as conservation of wildlife in the region.

The Ngorongoro Conservation Area became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979, originally designated in recognition of the biodiverse wildlife and the Ngorongoro Crater. Later in 2010, it received Mixed Heritage Status because of its cultural significance and the anthropological importance of the Olduvai Gorge.

The use of the land in this region was further restricted after the enaction of the Wildlife Conservation Act of 2009. The land withing the Ngorongoro Crater was to be left for conservation only and the initial inhibitors were forcibly displaced. This has long caused persistent conflicts and it has called for major stake holders like the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to steep in in mediations and to seek for what will be a fair solution.

The Ngorongoro Crater – The Eighth Wonder of the World

One of the main features of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area is the Ngorongoro Crater, also some times referred to as the Eden of Africa. The Ngorongoro Crater is the world’s largest intact volcanic caldera and the eighth wonder of the world. The creation of this crater is believed to have happened when a large volcano erupted and collapsed on itself two or three million years ago, creating a deep crater about 610 metres (2,000 feet) deep and about 260 square kilometres (100 square miles) large.

This natural crater was voted by Seven Natural Wonders as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa in Arusha, Tanzania, in February 2013, making it one of the must visit destination in Africa during a safari holiday tour or Tanzania Safari. Despite the volcano its self being a unique feature, the crater floor is a remarkable home for a large number of wildlife in Tanzania.

The Ngorongoro Crater is home to the African Big Five (lion, leopard, rhino, buffalo, and elephants) making in a dream destination for wildlife viewing safaris in Tanzania. The crater floor is also home to one of the largest lion populations per area in Africa with about 60 – 75 individuals said to live here. On of the best ways to explore the crater floor is by embarking on guided game drives, exploring different areas within the crater. The Crater is also home to an incredible number of birdlife that you’ll see during safaris here.