Ngorongoro
Most of us love visiting the zoo. But honestly, keeping animals caged up like that also makes us quite sad. But what if we tell you that there’s a zoo where animals are out wild in the open, enjoying their lives, and you can visit them too?
That’s right! Ngorongoro was once called the world’s largest zoo. This African region is one of Africa’s natural wonders and is a mind-blowing and adventure-filled place to visit!
UNESCO World Heritage Site:
The three-million-year-old Ngorongoro Crater is the centerpiece of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. This Ngorongoro Crater area was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Game-Viewing and WildLife:
It is located to the west of Arusha. Wildlife thrives here because of the natural topography. Black rhinos, hippos, lions, gazelles, antelopes, zebras and buffaloes live in the Ngorongoro Crater.
Because there is no huge migration here, wildlife watching is spectacular throughout the year. The number of cars on the crater bottom does grow during the peak period since people are super interested in what the area has to offer.
The fantastic area is a paradise in which you can go on the jeep safari. Several species survive due to the natural protection offered by the crater’s 1,968 ft high walls. In Tanzania, the Ngorongoro crater is the finest spot to watch threatened species such as black rhinos.
How The Crater Came Into Being:
A large volcano emerged from the northern Tanzanian highlands millions of years ago. The Ngorongoro Crater is the world’s biggest unflooded Caldera. The Caldera was produced by the eruption of the large volcano. The crater is now dormant and teeming with wildlife.
Wild-Life Protection:
The reserve was developed as a wildlife protection area for the semi-nomadic Masai people that live there. The Caldera is a significant historical site as well as an important home to animal variety. Biodiversity is abundant in the Caldera. Even though it’s located in a fairly small area, you wouldn’t expect the biodiversity and wildlife to be so abundant, yet, the crater will surprise you with it’s wonders!
Other Attractions Near Ngorongoro:
In addition to the Ngorongoro crater, there are other splendid attractions around it as well, such as the Lake Magadi, the Empakai crater, and even the Olmoti crater.
Lake Magadi:
Lake Magadi is located within the Ngorongoro Crater and is surrounded by hundreds of long-legged pink flamingos. This beautiful lake is a shallow and furiously alkaline lake due to high levels of sodium carbonate. The majority are smaller flamingos with a dark red beak. Many bigger flamingos also thrive there and have a black-tipped pinkish beak that is gently sloped to help them sift crustaceans. The bent beak is a great help in finding their food from the mud in the lake. Take your camera along and enjoy the beautiful sights they have to offer!
Olmoti and Empakai Craters:
There are two more volcanic craters, the Olmoti and Empakai, in addition to the main Ngorongoro caldera. The Empakai is recognized for its large lake and lush greenery and high cliffs. The Olmoti Crater is renowned for its stunning waterfalls.
Ngorongoro crater is a fantastic place to visit if you’re a fan of game-watching and a lover of lush greenery, cliffs, lakes, and everything nature has to offer. The waterfalls and the elegant pink flamingos bathing in the water provide a picturesque view to remember for decades later!