The Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA) - Tanzania (East Africa)

The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is an extraordinary conservation zone, located 180 km (110ml) West of Arusha, in the Crater Highlands area of Tanzania in East Africa. The Ngorongoro Conservation Area stretches across a massive 8,292km²(3,202ml²); and is one of the three divisions that comprise the Ngorongoro District in Arusha Region. The fascinating Ngorongoro Crater, a large volcanic caldera, situated in this protected area, is recognised as one of the Seven Wonders of Africa. The conservation area was established in 1959, as a multiple-purpose land use area, designated for promoting the conservation of natural resources; uphold the interest of indigenous communities in the area; and foster sustainable eco-tourism in the region. The area has been declared a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO); and listed as one of the International Biosphere Reserves by UNESCO’s Man and Biosphere Reserve Programme. The conservation area is administered by the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority, an arm of the Tanzanian government.

The cardinal features of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area include the Crater, the Serengeti Plains, the catchment forest; and the Northern Highland Forest Reserve, known as “Entim Olturot” in Maa language. Indeed, the Serengeti plains sustain approximately 2 million migratory species of wildlife of the Serengeti Mara-ecosystem. Other captivating features prevalent in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area are the archaeological and palaeontological site located at Oldupai gorge; and the early human foot-prints that were discovered at Alaitole in the Ngarusi area.

Land use in this fascinating conservation area is of a multi-purpose character, because it affords the conservation of the ecosystem and wildlife, while simultaneously allowing human habitation.

The area is part of the Serengeti ecosystem, adjoining the Serengeti National Park to the north, and bordering the Southern Serengeti plains. The southern and western parts of the area are essentially volcanic highlands, including the world-renowned Ngorongoro Crater and the little known Empakaa Crater. The southern and eastern boundaries of the park lie on the East African Rift Wall. In summer, vast numbers of Serengeti wildlife migrants pass through the plains of the reserve, including 1.7 million wildebeest, 260,000 zebra, and 470,000 gazelles.

A compelling feature of this area is the Ngorongoro Crater, a massive, continuous and unflooded caldera. The crater is said to have been formed when a massive volcano exploded and collapsed on itself, about two or three million years ago.  It’s about 610 m (2,000 ft) deep, with its floor spanning 260 km² (100 ml²).

In this crater dwells a population of about 25.000 large animals, mostly ungulates, together with the highest concentration of mammalian predators in Africa. Large animals in the crater include the black rhinoceros, hippopotamus, wildebeest, zebra, eland and gazelles; while the crater also hosts one of the highest known concentration of lions. On the rim of the crater dwell leopard, elephant, mountain reedbuck and buffalo. In the middle of the crater is a large lake; which is mostly inhabited by flamingoes.

In general, animals that can be more readily seen in the reserve include, waterbuck hartebeest, spotted hyenas, jackals, cheetahs, the African wild dog etc.