Ngorongoro conservation area is a great destination in Tanzania popular for its abundant wildlife species and rich cultural heritage of the locals, it is an exceptional conservation area which was gazette in 1959, Ngorongoro crater is the largest physical feature of the region, it is the world’s largest caldera, it was formed as a result of volcanicity, it is believed that a mountain the size of Mountain Kilimanjaro collapsed on its weight forming the huge caldera, it is beautiful in a million ways, it not being filled with water it is rather with animals!. It is a recognized UNESCO world heritage site due to its natural findings.
Ngorongoro conservation area is an open place with unrestricted movement of animals, expect to see many species including the so-called big five of the wilderness(African elephants, African buffaloes, rhinos, lions ), zebras, elands, hippos, crocodiles, waterbucks, warthogs, oribi, spotted hyenas, cheetahs, jackals among other species and over 500 types of birds can be spotted while in the conservation area. These can be seen while doing activities like guided nature walks, and game drives through the well-distributed trails of the area.
The best time to visit Ngorongoro crater can be any time of the year but better at the dry seasons of the year when the water sources are dried up, grasses are shorter which makes it easier to see wildlife, the long dry season in the months of May, June, July, August, October, it is a high tourism season with guests moving in and out of the conservation area, it is during this time that animals gather around the few water sources and a great time to spot big cats of the ecosystem including lions, cheetahs, and leopards. Because there are fewer stagnant waters the chances of getting Malaria from mosquitoes are minimal, there is a lot of difference in weather conditions of the dry season, it is also expected that the months of December –February to be as dry.
The wet season is equally amazing however it is characterized by a lot of rainfall, during this time of the year expect lush green vegetation with quite difficult-to-see animal species, this season comes with some positivity too accommodation facilities tend to offer cheaper places to stay for travellers, park fees are quite reduced and less of the crowd. It is the best time to go birding in the conservation area, the wet season is a fruiting time and hence receives a lot of migratory species from other regions.
Ngorongoro conservation area can be accessed by road or by air, it is approximately 2-3 hours from Arusha, and it is a more scenic drive to take a route through conservation areas along the northern circuit of Tanzania including the famous Serengeti National Park, Tarangire national park and Lake Manyara.
In conclusion Ngorongoro conservation area can be visited at any time of the year, just other seasons are better off compared to others, it is a place of great cultural importance, and meeting the local Masai people is such a beautiful way of getting to know the African culture.