[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Ngorongoro Crater Travel Guide
Tanzania is well known for its national parks such as the world-renowned Serengeti. Africa’s tallest mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro is also to be found here in Tazania. However, there is yet another awe-inspiring natural wonder which is, in fact, a UNESCO World Heritage site and it is called Ngorongoro.
Ngorongoro crater falls within the area known as the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA). It was created during a volcanic eruption and is the largest caldera in the world. It offers spectacular scenes unlike anywhere else and is packed with over 30,000 animals in its 100 square miles of space.
Here is what you need to know before making the trip.
The dry season sees a lot of tourists and visitors to Ngorongoro. This happens between the months of July all through to September. Due to the influx of people, the accommodation prices are high and may not be ideal for budget travelers.
The rainy season offers an alternative. The Ngorongoro plains are lush and green and the hotel prices are significantly cheaper.
As for the question of how long you should stay in Ngorongoro, the fact that this is not the largest park means that you can spend a whole day and see the best of what the park has to offer.
There are plenty of accommodation options for every budget at Ngorongoro. You can stay at any of the exclusive lodges situated on the rim of the crater if you don’t mind spending a bit of cash. However, for the budget traveler, there is the exciting and fun option of camping on the crater floor with all the animals around you. You can find companies that offer camping equipment.
You can expect to see all the big five of Africa at Ngorongoro, so named for being the most dangerous and toughest animals to hunt on the continent. These are the lions, leopards, rhinos, buffalo, and elephant.
If you want to enjoy the best views of animals, make sure to begin your game drive early when its less hot and the animals are active. When the temperatures rise, animals may hide in bushes to avoid the sun making them harder to spot.
While there is the option of self-game drives, these can be expensive. We recommend hiring a qualified tour guide as their vehicles feature roof openings. You can stand up and enjoy a 360-degree view of your surroundings.
Just make sure to have your essentials such as insect repellent, backpack, raincoat, as well as your camera phone or chargers.
Ngorongoro national park is managed by the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The park doesn’t accept payments in cash, you need bank slips and for that, you’ll have to use the CRDB Bank or Exim Bank in Arusha.
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