NGORONGORO CRATER:
The spectacular landscape of the world renowned Ngorongoro Crater has to be seen to be believed. It forms part of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA) within the Serengeti ecosystem and the Crater itself is home to more than 25 000 large mammals. Once a large volcano that later collapsed, it is now the largest intact caldera in the world.
The Crater floor has abundant water, which provides excellent grazing for resident herbivores, while the Crater walls are covered in lush vegetation, forming excellent protection for the large numbers of game. This is an area of spectacular beauty and superb game viewing, a truly unique safari destination.
HIGHLIGHTS:
- See Maasai herdsmen graze their cattle side by side with predators and prey
- Easy sightings of the Big Five
- The Lerai Forest is one of the best places in Africa for leopard sightings
- The views from the Crater rim are breathtaking
- Luxurious lodges perch on the rim, offering wonderful views and 4x4 safaris on the Crater floor
Distances and location:
From Arusha it is about a three hour drive to the entrance of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and another hour to get to the entrance to the crater itself. From Karatu the journey takes about an hour and a half. The road to the conservation area is in good shape and it is a comfortable journey that takes you through villages and across open plains. There is also a possibility to fly in from Arusha to the Ngorongoro airstrip or to the Lake Manyara airstrip, which takes approximately half an hour.
Excursion possibilities:
A. Visit a local Maasai village
B. Hike to the Olmoti and Empakaai craters
C. Mountain bike through the areas around Karatu
D. Visit a coffee plantation |
