Ngorongoro Conservation Area is a tourism hot spot for many travelers to Tanzania, it is most sought after due to the large concentration of animal species present in the region, there are a few places in the world where you can see what the crater presents, the crater was formed as a result of volcanicity, over 3 million years ago it is said that a mountain the size of Kilimanjaro sunk on its weight forming the world’s largest caldera, it used to be a part of the Serengeti national park until 1959 when it was gazette as a national park, it is a recognized UNESCO world heritage site to protect species that call this home.
Driving to Ngorongoro crater is the most recommendable way of getting to the conservation area, through the northern circuit of Tanzania, the drive is scenic, it can be on self-drive with families or using a Tanzanian tour operator, upon landing at the international airport, you will transferred by road to Ngorongoro, car types used are typically safari vehicles like the 4*4 land cruisers, super customs, tourist vans, these are designed with an open roof top to enhance guest experience on the view of animals and photography.
Ngorongoro crater is very easy to access on self-drive although, with this option, wardens will advise you to hire a game ranger, this is not compulsory however it is safer to take a ranger along with you, safari tracks in the ecosystem well demarcated and signposted it is not the place to get lost for as long as you can read. From all angles of the north, it is possible to drive to Ngorongoro crater, from Arusha it takes approximately 3 hours’ drive, from Serengeti national park it takes 2-3 hours through the northern circuit to the Ngorongoro crater.
Driving to Ngorongoro crater is allowed until 6:00 pm for sundowners, hence it is wise to plan your journey well, one can choose to begin from the crater and then to other national parks or choose to spend a night for the following morning all-dayexperience. The other option for getting to Ngorongoro Crater is flying to the nearest airstrip to the destination, it is from here that you will be picked up by a lodge representative for a scenic drive to the national conservation area.
Driving to Ngorongoro crater can be done all year round but is best during the dry season between the months of December-February and June –October, it is a great time when the trails are less slippery and easier to access by vehicle, it is also termed as a high tourism season and best to do activities like game drives, bird watching, visiting the Masai people, hikes and guided nature walks, visit the Olduvai Gorge.
In conclusion Ngorongoro conservation area is a must-see destination when you are planning for your Tanzanian Safari experience, guests might be wondering if there are places to stay when you reach the destination, well the answer is yes, a wide range of accommodation facilities is dotted along the rim of the crater ranging from the best budget to Luxury.