Activities to do in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
Are you planning your dream African safari in Tanzania and wondering about the activities to do in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area? This blog will guide you on the best activities to enjoy while on your safari in the Ngorongoro Crater. It’s one of the most rewarding safari destinations in Tanzania, celebrated for hosting the Ngorongoro Crater, the world’s largest caldera and one of the seven wonders of Africa. The area was established in 1959 as a multiple-use area, with wildlife coexisting with semi-nomadic Maasai grazing. It is known for its rich biodiversity, hosting more than 300 animal species, including the African Big Five: elephants, lions, rhinos, buffaloes and leopards, making it one of the best destinations for a complete Big Five safari.
Bird lovers will find the area a haven for birding, with more than 550 bird species, including water birds, migratory birds, savannah birds, forest birds and residents which are rare to find anywhere else. It provides various activities to travellers, such as bird watching, nature walks, cultural encounters, game drives, and visiting the Ngorongoro Crater. The area experiences the Great Wildebeest Migration from December to March in the southern part of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area specifically the Ndutu and Lake Ndutu regions bordering Serengeti National Park. This massive annual migration attracts thousands of travellers to witness wildebeests, zebras, gazelles, and other animals moving into the northern plains.
Activities to do in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
Game Drives.
There is no complete safari in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area without game drives, which give travellers an opportunity to explore its stunning views and rich biodiversity. Game drives are conducted in a 4×4 open pop-up vehicle, and there are two sessions: morning game drives and afternoon game drives. These are guided drives led by an experienced guide who ensures participants’ safety and provides insights about the inhabitants encountered. There are different areas where game drives can take place like the Ngorongoro Crater floor, which provides beautiful views of the Crater floor and allows visitors to spot different animals like elephants, lions under the trees resting or carrying their prey, rhinos grazing, zebras roaming around the crater floor and bird lovers will be thrilled to listen to the sweet, melodic songs and sounds of different bird species like Blue-billed Teal, Cape Shoveler, Northern Shoveler, Gadwall, Eurasian Wigeon, African Black Duck, Yellow-billed Duck, Red-billed Duck, Southern Pochard, Maccoa Duck, Helmeted Guineafowl, Vulturine Guineafowl, Eastern Crested Guineafowl, Coqui Francolin, Shelley’s Francolin and more. Areas around the Ndutu plains also provide excellent chances of encountering various animals.
Bird Watching.
Bird watching is one of the most interesting activities in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, which allows bird lovers and ornithologists to explore the area’s unique bird species. It’s blessed with more than 550 bird species, including savannah birds, water birds, migratory birds, forest birds and resident birds. Bird watching is a guided activity led by a knowledgeable park guide who identifies birds by listening to their calls and sounds and provides more insights about their behaviours. Visitors will encounter various bird species such as White-bellied Go-away-bird, Eastern Plantain-eater, Purple-crested Turaco, Schalow’s Turaco, Hartlaub’s Turaco, White-browed Coucal, Black Coucal, Green Malkoha, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Pied Cuckoo, Dideric Cuckoo, Klaas’s Cuckoo, African Emerald Cuckoo, Black Cuckoo, Red-chested Cuckoo, African Cuckoo, Pennant-winged Nightjar, Eurasian Nightjar, Donaldson Smith’s Nightjar, Donaldson Smith’s Nightjar, Fiery-necked Nightjar, Montane Nightjar, Plain Nightjar, Freckled Nightjar, Slender-tailed Nightjar, Square-tailed Nightjar, Mottled Spinetail, Scarce Swift, Alpine Swift, Mottled Swift, Common Swift, Nyanza Swift, Little Swift, White-rumped Swift, Buff-spotted Flufftail, Red-chested Flufftail, Striped Flufftail, African Rail, Corn Crake, African Crake, Lesser Moorhen, Eurasian Moorhen, Red-knobbed Coot, Allen’s Gallinule, African Swamphen, Baillon’s Crake, African Finfoot, Gray Crowned-Crane, Spotted Thick-knee, Water Thick-knee, Black-winged Stilt, Pied Avocet, Black-bellied Plover, Common Ringed Plover, Little Ringed Plover, Long-toed Lapwing, Spur-winged Lapwing, Crowned Lapwing.
Nature Walks.
Nature walks are amazing activities that give nature enthusiasts a unique opportunity to explore the rich biodiversity and stunning views on foot. Nature walks are guided activities led by an experienced park guide with an armed game ranger who ensures participants’ safety. There are well-maintained trails which are used for nature walks, such as the crater rim walk, Empakaai crater, Eyasi viewpoint and more. While on these guided nature walks, visitors have a chance to see various plants, trees, and animals like vervet monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, olive baboons and more. Bird lovers will encounter various bird species, including Yellow-billed Duck, Red-billed Duck, Southern Pochard, Maccoa Duck, Helmeted Guineafowl.
Visiting Maasai Village.
This is one of the most memorable activities in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, which gives visitors a chance to visit a traditional Maasai boma and learn about the community’s distinctive culture and traditional way of life. During the visit, they can experience the traditional Maasai dances and songs, see traditional homes known as enkaji, meet community members, and learn about livestock keeping, traditional customs, clothing, beadwork and daily life. Visitors may also have the opportunity to purchase handcrafted Maasai jewellery and beadwork, supporting local artisans and community livelihoods.
