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NGORONGORO

CONSERVATION AREA AUTHORITY

a UNESCO World Heritage Site

The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is a protected area and a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Ngorongoro District, west of Arusha City in the Arusha Region, within the Crater Highlands geological area of northern Tanzania. The area is named after Ngorongoro Crater, a large volcanic caldera within the area. The conservation area is administered by the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority, an arm of the Tanzanian government, and its boundaries follow the boundary of the Ngorongoro District in the Arusha Region. The conservation area also contains Olduvai Gorge, one of the most important paleoanthropological sites in the world.

FACTS

  1. Location: Northern Tanzania, near the Serengeti and Great Rift Valley.
  2. Ngorongoro Crater: World’s largest inactive volcanic caldera, about 610 meters deep and 260 square kilometers in area.
  3. UNESCO Site: Designated in 1979 for its natural beauty and ecological significance.
  4. Wildlife: Home to around 25,000 large animals, including the Big Five and numerous bird species.
  5. Human Habitation: The Maasai people live and graze livestock within the conservation area.
  6. Olduvai Gorge: Important paleoanthropological site with early human fossils.
  7. Conservation: Managed to balance wildlife protection, Maasai needs, and tourism.
  8. Lerai Forest: A forest on the crater floor, home to elephants and monkeys.
  9. Climate: Temperate with a rainy season from November to May and a dry season from June to October.
  10. Tourism: Popular for game drives, walking safaris, and cultural experiences with the Maasai.
  11. Biodiversity: Diverse habitats supporting a wide range of plant and animal life.
  12. Elevation: Crater rim is about 2,286 meters above sea level.
  13. Formation: Created by a volcanic explosion and collapse millions of years ago