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Ngorongoro
The
Ngorongoro Conservation Area stretches from the Karatu Highlands to the
Serengeti and covers an area of around 8300 sq km. Formed by the same
immense geological upheavals as the Great Rift Valley, Ngorongoro was
once a mountain as high as Kilimanjaro. About 3 million years ago, it
blew up, covering the Serengeti in ash. The crater floor sank leaving
the rim to form a natural enclosure 2,285 metres high.
While on a Ngorongoro Safari the most amazing experience is viewing the
crater for the first time. As your vehicle slowly ascends through
mountain forests you will feel it getting colder and colder. Eventually
you reach the rim, and dropping sharply off in front of you is
Ngorongoro Crater.
Ngorongoro Crater is the best self-contained safari destination in the
world. The world's largest unbroken caldera, it is often referred to as
the 'Garden of Eden'. The rich pasture and permanent water of the
crater floor shelters a large population of animals. In fact, the
crater floor is one of the most densely crowded game areas in the world
and is home to about 30,000 animals. The open grassland makes it easy
to police, so it is also a stronghold for endangered species like black
rhino and cheetah.
The volcanoes, grasslands, waterfalls and mountain forests are also
home to the Maasai people of Tanzania.
A few hours drive to the east takes you to the town of Arusha which
nestles at the foot of Mount Meru, within view of Mount Kilimanjaro.
Arusha is known as the gateway to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and
the Northern Parks.
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Ngorongoro Serena Lodge is
built on the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater, and its natural stone and
ivy-covered walls blends in with its surroundings.
Gibb's Farm is the perfect
place from which to explore the beautiful surroundings; guided walkes
to a nearby waterfall and bird-watching trips are extremely
poular.
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