Ngorongoro Conservation Area

The Ngorongoro Crater is without a doubt Tanzania’s most productive Big Five destination. The crater floor teems with wildlife, and predator sightings tend to be exceptional. It harbors the world’s densest lion population and spotted hyenas are equally common. Look out for smaller carnivores, such as golden and black-backed jackals and bat-eared foxes. If you’re lucky, you might also see a serval hunting small rodents or birds. Most safari heavyweights are well represented in the crater. Black rhino is the star attraction and big numbers of buffalo sweep across the grassy plains. Elephant herds rarely come through, but many lone bulls carrying massive tusks have made the crater floor their home. Although giraffes are common in the greater conservation area, you won’t find any inside of the crater. Presumably the steep walls form a natural barrier for them.

There is excellent birding to be had in the Ngorongoro Crater. Even from a great distance, you’ll see flocks of pink flamingos in Lake Magadi. Come closer, and you’ll also spot ducks, herons, storks and waders. The crater’s most noticeable grassland residents include ostrich, kori bustard, grey crowned crane, secretary bird and rosy-throated longclaw. Be careful at the picnic spot: black kites are adept at swooping down to steal people’s lunch out of their hands. The forested crater rim has its own birdlife. Specials include white-eyed slaty flycatcher, Schalow’s turaco and several high-altitude sunbird species. Migratory birds are present from November to April. Although the birdlife in the Ngorongoro Crater is good throughout the year, the variety is greatest from November to April when Palearctic and intra-African migratory species are present, and many resident birds are in breeding plumage. The best time to watch wildlife is during the Dry season, which is June to October.