In Ngorongoro conservation area the Masai, their livestock and the wild life cohabit, thing that distinguishes it from other national parks.

Ngorongoro contains two Jewels:

Highlights:

Olduvai Gorge
A canyon with 50 km of longitude and 90 m of depth, where it is possible to see the famous discoveries of remains of early Man by Mary and Louis Leakey in 1959. There is also an interesting museum with reproductions of fossils found here.

Ngorongoro Crater
The famous volcanic Ngorongoro crater is the largest unbroken caldera in the world. The crater (700-800 metres deep and 265 sq km) is a microcosm that contains swamps, forests, saline, the lake Makati and a river of fresh water. There are about 35,000 animals within the crater itself. However, this is undoubtedly the best place to see black rhino in Tanzania, in extinction danger. The crater remains closed to the public during the night and it doesn’t have accommodation inside, the ideal thing is to stay in some of the lodges that we find on the top of crater and to go down very early the following day. Outside of the crater, due to the altitude, it is recommended to take coat clothes.

Features:

Established: 1959.

Area: 8.300 sq Km.

Location: Latitude 2 44 y Longitude 35 00 y 35 55 E.

Altitude: Of 1350 to 3600 m. above sea level.

Features: Olduvai Gorge and Ngorongoro Crater.

Wildlife:
Lions, elephants, buffalo, warthog, impala, hartebeest, antelopes, vultures, eagles, thousands of flamingoes, some leopard and rhinoceros, cheetah, zebras, wildebeest, jackals, hippopotami, hyenas and aquatic, predators and gramineous birds.

Distances:
190 km. from Arusha (2-3 hours).
60 km. from lake Manyara (1 hour).

When to go:
All year.

Facilities:
Lodges, camp sites outside the crater and aerodrome.

Lodges:
Ngorongoro Serena Lodge, Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge, Ngorongoro Wildlife Lodge, Ngorongoro Crater Lodge.