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Friday, April 17, 2020

Wildlife in Ngorongoro Crater compose of all Big 5 Africa for safari holiday goers


Ngorongoro Conservation area is home to a wildlife population of about 25,000 large animals. Mostly ungulates, alongside the highest density of mammalian predators in Africa including the densest known population of lion. Ngorongoro harbors a range of endangered species, such as the Black Rhino, Wild hunting dog and Golden Cat. Ngorongoro hosts one of the largest animal migrations on earth, including over 1 million wildebeest, 72,000 zebras, and 350,000 Thompson and Grant gazelles.


It is also home to about 500 species of birds. If you plan for bird watching photographic safaris, include the Ngorongoro conservation area into your safari itinerary. The mix of forests, canyons, grassland, lakes, and marshes forms an ideal habitat for an enormous variety of birds. During the rainy season, you can see the arrival of Eurasian migrants at the open pools. White storks and yellow wagtails mingle with the local inhabitants; stilts, saddle bill storks, ibis, ruff and various species of duck.
Lesser flamingos fly in to feed on their breeding grounds at Lake Natron. Distinctive grassland birds such as ostrich, Kori bustards, and crown cranes occasionally put on truly magnificent displays.

Accommodation during your wildlife safari tours in the Ngorongoro Conservation area is affordable. There are many accommodation options in Ngorongoro, from Lodges to camping grounds. Safari Lodges vary in standard, usually ranging from 3-star budget lodges, moderate lodges and luxury lodges. Also, tented camp options vary from basic backpackers tents, budget camping safaris, medium luxury tented camps, and upmarket luxury camps. The choice of accommodation depends on your budget and travel style. 



Ngorongoro Crater covers an area of 304 sq km and its diameter is 19.5 km, while its depth is 630km. The Ngorongoro Crater floor is dominated by open grassland and it has a patch of woodland known as the Lerai forest. This forest provides shelter for animals such as elephants, eland, monkeys, rare black rhinoceros, Lions, Hippos, and various bird species. The usual safari itineraries from 4 days include a day or 2nights in Ngorongoro crater rim. The must-see attractions in Ngorongoro are Great rift valley and black rhinos. 



Ngorongoro-Serengeti -Mara great migration is the wildlife protected area within the same ecosystem. During the periods of January through March, the southern Serengeti National Park and the western part of Ngorongoro Conservation Area (not the Ngorongoro Crater), is inhabited by an estimated 1.5+ million herds of wildebeest and zebra, which is part of the greatest migration of wild ungulates (wildebeest and zebra) on earth. From as early as December the Migration starts to move into the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The short grass plains here are rich in nutrition which provides the herds with the best conditions to raise their newborn. Mid-February is calving the season when approximately 8,000 wildebeest are born every day for a period of approximately 3 weeks, therefore the area around Lake Ndutu on the western part of Ngorongoro is the place to be at this time of the year. About 400,000 zebra and 200,000 gazelles accompany the wildebeest along the way, making a total of over 2 million migrating animals in Ngorongoro and Serengeti National Park plains. The best time to do a safari tour to Ngorongoro is December to March. You can book Tanzania safari for 2 days, 3 days or even a day tour and see wildebeest. 

Major habitats & land cover types within the ecosystem vary. In the open grassland plains are dominated by couch grass (Digitaria macroblephara) and Sporobolus marginatus, Acacia woodland savanna; gallery forest; lowland woodlands with Commiphora spp., Acacia drepanolobium and A. gerrardii; A. lahai and A. seyal.

The people of Ngorongoro compose of famous primitive Maasai tribe, Hadzabe, Iraque, etc. Culture and people of Ngorongoro form one of the important attractions that tourists, Anthropologists and Archeologists do not dare to miss when visiting Ngorongoro. Over thousands of years, a succession of the tribes of livestock keepers lived in and left the area, sometimes driven by other tribal groups.

The Maasai are instantly identifiable with their toga-like red blanket, ochre-dyed hairstyle and colorful beaded jewelry. The Maasai have inhabited NCA for about 200 years after forcing out the Datoga. Since then, the Maasai occupied the area and are living with the environment and wildlife in harmony. Due to their unique culture and customs, they are among the best known African ethnic group.



The Maasai are sometimes considered rigid because they have managed to preserve their traditional way of life and they continue to practice their ancient customs and ceremonies, which has enabled coexistence with wildlife and the environment. Maasai proudly practices a traditional cattle-herding lifestyle. Today there are 88,000 Maasai living in the Conservation area with their herds of cattle, donkeys, goats, and sheep. During the rainy season, they move to the grasslands and they spend the dry season in the forest and on the mountain slopes. The Maasai are allowed to drive their livestock into the crater for water and salt but settlement is not allowed. Despite their firmness to preserve their culture, the Maasai are friendly, hospitable and therefore visitors are welcomed to visit the designated “Maasai bomas” which are scattered in the Conservation area.

The Datoga (Barbaig) are the Nilo-Hamitic speaking pastoralists who came to the area as earlier as 300 years before they were forced to leave out by the Maasai. Their traditional culture is unchanged and unspoiled. Datoga is highly skilled in metalwork. A visit to Datoga communities can include seeing metal workers in action and an opportunity to obtain beautiful jewelry.

The Hadza believed to be the first inhabitants of NCA but were forced to move southwards on the shores of lake Eyasi and they still live a hunter-gatherer lifestyle and speak a language with clicking sounds in it. Today, the Hadza and Datoga live just outside the NCA, in the Lake Eyasi basin and beyond.

Cultural tourism is the tour excursion that can be arranged within your safari itinerary plan. If you have Tanzania safari trip of 7 days, you can spare a few hours to visit Maasai Bomas. However, if you want to visit Datoga and Hadzabe, you need to set aside or add an extra day to visit Lake Eyasi.

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