Ngorongoro
Conservation area.
The park is located between
the Serengeti and Lake Manyara (see map). It is home to
the famous volcanic Ngorongoro crater which is the largest
unbroken caldera in the world. The crater (610 metres deep
and 260 km squared) is a microcosm of East African scenery
and game and is usually visited on the way back from the
Serengeti to Arusha. Scenic grandeur and stunning views
are the hallmark of this wonder of the world. All the lodges
are built high on the crater rim and afford amazing views
over and into the crater - the perfect setting for a well
deserved sundowner.
Activites and Special Interests
Archeologists will be interested in Olduvai Gorge which
is in the Conservation Area and where it is possible to
see the famous discoveries of remains of early Man by Mary
and Louis Leakey. However most of the activity is within
the crater which is popular for bird watching, photography,
walking safaris, and game viewing from a vehicle (4 wheel
drive).
Wildlife
There are 25,000 larger animals within the crater itself,
mostly Zebra and wildebeest. However, this is undoubtedly
the best place to see black rhino in Tanzania as well as
prides of lion that include the magnificent black-maned
males. There are lots of colourful flamingoes and a variety
of other water birds around the soda lake on the crater
floor. More than a 100 species of bird not found in the
Serengeti have been found in the crater. Other game: leopard,
cheetah, hyena, elephants, warthog, impala, buffalo, hartebeest,
eland and lots of other members of the antelope family and
smaller mammals of sorts.
Accommodation
There are a number of lodges and camps to stay at on the
rim of the Crater. Lodges: Ngorongoro
Wildlife Lodge, Ngorongoro
Sopa Lodge and Ngorongoro
Serena. Camps: Most campers stay at Simba site.
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