Ngorongoro

NGORONGORO CRATER 

World Heritage site

The multiple land use systems in this area are among the earliest to be established around the world as a means of reconciling human development and conserving natural resources. The 

NCA also contains numerous paleontological, archaeological, and anthropological sites of exceptional quality.

Ngorongoro Conservation Area was established in 1959 by the NCA Ordinance No 413 of 1959 as a multiple land use area, designated to promote the conservation of natural resources, safeguard the interests of NCA indigenous residents and promote tourism.
 hwww.pinterest.com/africa2africa

The main feature of the NCA include the Ngorongoro Crater, The Serengeti Plains that support about 2.0 millions migratory wildlife species of the Serengeti Mara-ecosystem (TAWIRI, 2003) and the catchment forest; the Northern Highland Forest Reserve (NHFR) known as ‘Entim Olturot’ in Maa language. Other important features found in the NCA are the archaeological and paleontologist site located at Oldupai Gorge and the early human foot-prints that were discovered at Alaitole in Ngarusi area.

 

                   Hotels and accommodation 
The area has some of the best hotels and lodges in Tanzania, such as the classic Ngorongoro Crater Lodge, built in 1939, and now operated by the And Beyond group of South Africa, along with the Ngorongoro Rhino Lodge, built in 1942, the Ndutu Lodge, built in 1946, and the Ngorongoro Wildlife Lodge, dating back to 1971.

 Famous visitors

About 450,000 tourists visit Ngorongoro every year, accounting for 60 per cent of the average 770,000 tourists visiting Tanzania per annum. Famous visitors include former US President Bill Clinton, the Queen of Denmark Magrethe II, former American Human Right Activist the Rev Jesse Jackson, Hollywood film star Chris Tucker, John Wayne, Prince William, and the entire delegation attending the 2008 Leon Sullivan Summit which took place in Arusha.

Some scenes from the Oscar winning Out of Africa and John Wayne's Hatari were filmed in Ngorongoro.

 NCA is a unique protected area in the whole of Africa where conservation of natural resources in integrated with human development.Multiple Land Use     

 Flora and Fauna: Wildlife

The area contains over 25,000 large animals including 26 black rhinoceros. There are 7,000 wildebeests, 4,000 zebras, 3,000 eland and 3,000 Grant's and Thomson's gazelles. The crater also has the densest known population of lions, numbering 62. Higher up, in the rainforests of the crater rim, are leopards, about 30 large elephants, mountain reedbuck and more than 4,000 buffalos, spotted hyenas, jackals, rare wild dogs, cheetahs, and other felines.

Conclusion

In addition to the above-mentioned attractions, visitors can also sample cultural tourism or eco-tourism in various Maasai bomas and settlements. Gibbs Farm, located near Karatu along the NCA perimeters, specialises in this. There are also the Endoro River nature trail expeditions, conducted within the Northern Highland Forest Reserve, where visitors can see elephant caves, waterfalls (150 metres high), enjoy bird watching and learn about local flora.

The multiple land use philosophy in the area is to maintain the peaceful co-existence of human and wildlife in a natural and traditional setting.  

the rich bio diversity and ecology of the Serengeti Plains and The Ngorongoro Highlands, the major paleontological and archaeological sites and important water catchment areas. Tourism is a vital element in raising revenue and has been encouraged and developed with a respect for culture and without damaging the environment.