Animals of Ngorongoro crater

Animals of Ngorongoro crater : The Ngorongoro crater is located in the northern part of Tanzania and is a destination which is home to numerous wildlife species.

Some of the wildlife species which can be seen during a tour around the Ngorongoro crater include black rhinos, lions, leopards, elephants, buffalos, antelopes, zebras, wildebeests, cheetahs, jackals, impalas, bushbucks, elands, hartebeests, waterbucks, kudu, hippos, hyenas among others.

Over 75 lions can be seen during a tour around the crater floor and here are also many other predators in the Ngorongoro conservation area which can be seen during a safari. Another wildlife attraction in the Ngorongoro crater is the black rhinos.

The Ngorongoro conservation area is a UNESCO world heritage site and the Ngorongoro crater is world’s largest intact volcanic caldera. The crater was formed as a result of collapse of a volcano over 3 million years ago. Currently the destination is home to over 115 different wildlife species and is also a popular safari destination in Tanzania.

Wildlife species can be seen around the open grasslands of the crater floor as well as around the highland area of Ngorongoro. The Ndutu area is another location where animals can be spotted during a safari around the Ngorongoro conservation area.

The wildebeest migration can also be seen during a safari to the Ngorongoro conservation area. The calving season is a time when over 8000 calves are born daily in the grass plains of the Ndutu area. This calving season can be seen during the months of November to March.

During a game viewing experience around the Ndutu area, wildlife species can also be spotted around the lake area. The Ndutu area is found between the Ngorongoro conservation area and Serengeti national park.

The Ngorongoro conservation area is made up of open grasslands, woodlands and also forest where wildlife species can be spotted during a tour. There are also different attractions to visit around the Ngorongoro crater area during safaris and they include the Ol duvai gorge, Ol donyo lengai, Lake Ndutu, Empakaai crater and Olmoti crater, Engare sero footprints among other locations.

Apart from the many wildlife species of the Ngorongoro crater, there are also over 500 bird species around the destination and flamingos can also be seen during a safari around Ngorongoro along the shores of Lake Magadi.

Different activities are carried out around the Ngorongoro crater during the search for the different wildlife species and they include game drives, nature walks, hiking, hot air balloon safaris and also bird watching. Visitors can also engage in cultural tours with the Maasai people during their safaris to the Ngorongoro crater.

Nature walks around the Ngorongoro crater are a wildlife viewing experience which offers a closer interaction with the natural surroundings at the destination and animals around the savannah can also be encountered during this activity which also involves learning how to track the wildlife species in the company of a ranger guide. It is an exciting activity which takes place off the usual trails followed during game viewing at the destination.

The Maasai live around the Ngorongoro conservation area and can be seen as they graze their livestock around the savannah plains. During tours, visitors can also interact with the Maasai and get to know more about their way of life and culture, watch traditional dance performances, and see local arts and crafts among other activities during their visits to the Maasai villages. There are also many other tribes to interact with living around the neighboring villages of the northern part of Tanzania such as the Hadzabe, the Datoga and many others.

Another exciting experience when exploring the Ngorongoro crater is the game drives which are done around the crater floor. The steep walls of the crater form a boundary which keeps the animals at the destination in the crater and this makes wildlife viewing easier around the crater area. The big 5 which include lions, leopards, rhinos, buffalos, elephants are among the wildlife species sought after by tourists during their game drives around the open savannah plains of the Ngorongoro crater.

Hot air balloon safaris are also done over the savannah plains of the Ngorongoro crater during safaris to the destination. This offers an aerial view of the surroundings in the crater area and wildlife species can also be spotted.

The fees for vehicle entry into the Ngorongoro crater is 295 USD and park entry fee is 70.80 USD for non-east African citizens, 35.4 USD for expatriates or residents living in Tanzania, 11800 TSHS for Tanzanians and East African citizens. Children below the age of 5 years are not charged entrance fees.

Best time to visit the Ngorongoro crater to see the wildlife

Wildlife viewing around the Ngorongoro crater can be done at any time of the year and the best time for wildlife viewing is the dry season around June to October when the animals can be spotted around the water points.

Around April and May it is the rainy season and this time of the year is recommended for visitors who prefer interacting with fewer tourists as they engage in a safari around the Ngorongoro crater. The vegetation is also lush during these months which are in the low season and wildlife viewing is also possible during game drive around the grass plains.

During the calving season around December to March, there are also many tourists visiting the Ngorongoro conservation area to see the wildebeest migration as they explore the grasslands where the wildebeests graze and roam. It is also a good time of the year for watching as the predators hunt the unknowing wildebeests.

There are different ways to get to the Ngorongoro crater to engage in the various activities and see different attractions around the destination. Visitors when getting to Tanzania can fly to Kilimanjaro international airport and from here drive to the Ngorongoro crater area. the drive takes about 3 to 4 hours from Arusha town.

Visit Tanzania and enjoy a safari along the crater floor as you search for the numerous wildlife species around the Ngorongoro crater.