Welcome to Ngorongoro
The Ngorongoro Conservation area is a UNESCO heritage site in Tanzania, covering 8292 square kilometers of shot volcanic craters, highlands and archaeological wonders. Regionally better known for possessing Ngorongoro Crater, a caldera overflowing with wildlife, this area fuses natural spectacles with cultural and historical importance. Apart from the crater, Ngorongoro also offers tranquil hikes and ancient geological finds which add tremendous value to the experience for every safari traveler or adventurer. Today, we focus on three unforgettable activities, which are, game drives in the crater, hiking in Empakaai Crater, and visiting Olduvai Gorge, that define the essence of Ngorongoro, courtesy of Key 2 Tanzania.
Activities
Why Book a Crater Game Drive?
The game drives in Ngorongoro Crater, known as the largest caldera worldwide, provides unbeatable wildlife viewing in its bowl of approximately 260 square kilometers. This so-called “natural zoo” is home to the Big Five; lions, elephants, leopards, rhinos and buffalos. To make this experience even more appealing for travelers and wildlife enthusiasts, the “zoo” features a captive audience of scores of animals year-round due to its springs and Lake Magadi. Captured in the game drive is the stunning sight of prides of lions, elusive black rhinos and flocks of flamingos againt the crater’s 600 meter walls.
Under the supervision of expert rangers, drives traverse the Lerai Forest, open plains, as well as the hippo pools, unveiling over 400 bird species along with predator-prey dramas. The compact size of the crater ensures frequent sightings while offering cooler temperatures for comfort and golden light for photography during sunrise drives.
Why Do It?
As for the crater drives, they offer extreme and intimate wildlife experiences combined with striking landscapes. They are perfect for all types of tourists. With their skilled drivers and comfortable 4×4 cars, Key 2 guarantees attentive safaris catered directly towards the traveler’s needs.
Pro tip: For a P.I.G or perfect Instagram geo-tag, arrive from June to September to avoid the rain and cloud cover, but don’t forget to bring tickets for your early booking since crater access is limited and rhinos are best spotted with binoculars.
Empakaai Crater Hikes: A Trek to Tranquility
A hidden treasure of Ngorongoro Highlands, Empakaai Crater with its soda lake settled boisterously at the bottom of steep forested walls offers an equally tranquil hiking experience. The descent, guided by Maasai and taking 1-2 hours, is graced by flamingos, buffalo, sunbirds and gives expansive views of Ol Doinyo Lengai and, on good weather days, Mount Kilimanjaro. The trail’s seclusion creates a beautiful balance with the lush greenery more serene compared to the crowd filled main crater.
Hikes are enriched with cultural Maasai insights from the pastoralists themselves. Campsites on the rim provide an opportunity to star gaze and give overnight campers the stillness of the highlands to enhance the experience.
Why Do It?
Anature enthusiasts will forever appreciate the solitude and stunning landscapes Empakaai hikes provides. Key 2 Tanzania guarantees small, safe group treks and authentic Maasai interaction and engagement, combining tranquility with exercise.
Helpful Tip: Travel in the months of December to March for blooming trails and active birds. Do remember to wear proper hiking boots, and bring warm clothes for the chilly highland mornings.
Olduvai Gorge: The Cradle of Humankind
This 48 kilometer long ravine located in Eastern Ngorongoro Conservation Area is Olduvai Gorge, or more commonly known as the Cradle of Humankind. It houses some of the world’s most important archaeological finds, containing fossils and tools over 2.5 million years old, including an early human ancestor, Homo habilis. These remarkable discoveries made by Louis and Mary Leakey changed much of the modern understanding of human evolution.
The Olduvai Gorge Museum features exhibits on the discoveries at the site, while tours delve into the excavation strata. Nearby, the Shifting Sands — a volcanic ash dune crescent — adds to the mystique. The gorge’s plains are home to wildlife, including zebras, gazelles, and ostriches.
Why Visit?
Olduvai Gorge is for the more adventurous and those wishing to deepen their understanding of history. The museum’s information augments the insights the Maasai-guided tours provide on the science, culture, and nature of the region. The museum also makes the site appropriate for visitors of any age and family.
Pro Tip: Best visited from June to October when dry weather prevails with no rains. Also assisted is access to Laetoli, which is about 45 kilometers away to see the 3.6 million years old hominid footprints. The gorge is very scalding, thus wearing a cap/hiking hat and getting water is advised.
Why Choose Ngorongoro with Key 2 Tanzania?
At Key 2 Tanzania, we customize Ngorongoro trips and seek to make these activities unforgettable. Features include tracking rhinos in the crater or hiking Empakai, and the best part of it all, revealing Olduvai’s secrets. Because we are Tanzanian-owned, their insider knowledge offers authentic experiences. Additionally, we focus on sustainable traveling by working with eco-friendly Maasai lodges since these communities truly benefit from your visit.
No matter what, your comfort is guaranteed and along with our world-class accommodating services, memorable experiences are a guarantee too. From wildlife pursuits, crater trekking, to tracing human history, everything is possible. Contact Key 2 Tanzania to mark your Ngorongoro trip and let us craft an itinerary for you!!