The Ngorongoro Crater - The Exiting Features That You Will See
The Ngorongoro Volcano was probably the world's tallest mountain before it erupted and collapsed about 2 million years ago. The Ngorongoro crater is a flat plain area ringed with steep walls which resulted from a giant volcanic explosion and eruption. The crater is situated to the West of Arusha in Tanzania and its floor covers an area of two hundred and sixty square kilometers. The crater is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was opened in 1979. This area was conserved to protect the wide variety of wild animals, bird species, trees and vegetation. The Olduvai Gorge which is about 30 miles long is a steep sided ravine found in the Great Rift Valley and is situated in the plains of this conservation area. The Homo habilis and the early Hominidae were found here by Mary and Louis Leakey in 1950s.
There are about twenty five thousand wild animals in the Ngorongoro conservation area. This crater has the largest number of mammal predators as compared to all other parks in Africa. There about four thousand zebras and 3000gazelles and eland. The large animals here include the lion, black rhino, leopard, cheetah, buffalo and the elephant. Unlike the Serengeti wildebeest annual migration, the migration here is scant probably due to abundant food and water which is available all the year round. They are also discouraged from moving by the walls of the extinct volcano. Wildebeest from the Serengeti plains however migrate to this area annually in search of grass and water.
The wild animals here are not scared of humans making the area one of the best tourist destination for game viewing. The Olduvai Gorge comes from a Masai word for sisal (Oldpaai) and it is the driest part in this area. This conservation area is covered with scrub bush, grass land, huge plains, thick vegetation and a large forest which covers an area of about eight thousand three hundred square kilometers. Lakes Ndutu and Masek are alkaline lakes situated in this area and are a good habitat to many hippos. It is also a good source of water for many animals.
The Masai communities are the only people allowed to graze along the borders of the conservation area. A visit to the Ngorongoro crater will also include cultural activities with these wonderful people who will entertain you with their local music, dance, and folk tales. Accommodation is in luxurious hotels built within and outside the conservation area. There is a good site where you can get to view all the big five animals. In addition, you can also choose to join the Ngorongoro Crater safari with the Serengeti wildebeest migration.
There are about twenty five thousand wild animals in the Ngorongoro conservation area. This crater has the largest number of mammal predators as compared to all other parks in Africa. There about four thousand zebras and 3000gazelles and eland. The large animals here include the lion, black rhino, leopard, cheetah, buffalo and the elephant. Unlike the Serengeti wildebeest annual migration, the migration here is scant probably due to abundant food and water which is available all the year round. They are also discouraged from moving by the walls of the extinct volcano. Wildebeest from the Serengeti plains however migrate to this area annually in search of grass and water.
The wild animals here are not scared of humans making the area one of the best tourist destination for game viewing. The Olduvai Gorge comes from a Masai word for sisal (Oldpaai) and it is the driest part in this area. This conservation area is covered with scrub bush, grass land, huge plains, thick vegetation and a large forest which covers an area of about eight thousand three hundred square kilometers. Lakes Ndutu and Masek are alkaline lakes situated in this area and are a good habitat to many hippos. It is also a good source of water for many animals.
The Masai communities are the only people allowed to graze along the borders of the conservation area. A visit to the Ngorongoro crater will also include cultural activities with these wonderful people who will entertain you with their local music, dance, and folk tales. Accommodation is in luxurious hotels built within and outside the conservation area. There is a good site where you can get to view all the big five animals. In addition, you can also choose to join the Ngorongoro Crater safari with the Serengeti wildebeest migration.
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