Ngorongoro conservation area is one of the world’s wonders and a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in northern region of Tanzania, this conservation area lies in the Tanzania’s northern safari circuit and in a distance of about of 153 kilometers west of Arusha town a great tourism center in Tanzania. Ngorongoro conservation area is a unique Tanzania safari destination and a part of the great Serengeti ecosystem with Ndutu region acting as the confluence of this conservation area and the southern region of Serengeti national park, the area of Ngorongoro conservation area adjoins the Serengeti national park. Ngorongoro conservation area lies in a distance of 50 kilometers from Lake Manyara national park, 139 kilometers from Tarangire national park and 213 kilometers from Arusha national park.
Ngorongoro conservation area is a unique destination with Ngorongoro crater as the main feature of the area, Ngorongoro crater is the world’s largest unbroken volcanic caldera comprises of 2,000 feet of depth and 260 square kilometers of width. Ngorongoro crater was formed as a result of volcanic explosion and after its formation it collapsed in about 2-3 million years ago. Because of the uniqueness of Ngorongoro crater, it was recognized as a world Heritage site of global importance in 1979. Apart of the Ngorongoro crater, there are other beautiful features in Ngorongoro conservation area which are other highlights of Tanzania safaris in this conservation area. These features include the Oldupai or Olduvai Gorge famously known as the cradle of man, Olduvai Gorge is a mystical archaeological site hosting the remaining evidence of the first human evolution on earth and these remains were discovered in 1950s by paleoanthropologists Louis Leakey and his Mary Leaky. Other archeological wonders found in Ngorongoro conservation area include Laetoli footprints, Nasera rock and Olduvai Gorge Museum.
Ngorongoro conservation area stretches across the area of 8,292 square kilometers with a landscape comprises of numerous physical features such as lakes, craters, swamps and many more. Physical features in Ngorongoro conservation area include Ngorongoro crater, Empakaai crater, Olmoti crater, Lake Magadi, central plains, Lerai forest, Rumbe hills, Munge stream, Mandusi swamp, Gorigor swamp, Ngoitokitok springs, Gol mountains, Mount Lolmalasin and Losirua, Lake Ndutu, Lake Maseke, Olkarien gorge, and the shifting sands. The central plains of Ngorongoro conservation area are dominated by grasslands inside the crater, the central plains support lives of various wildlife species and they are excellent site for Tanzania game viewing safaris in Ngorongoro conservation area.