WILDLIFE IN NGORONGORO CONSERVATION AREA (NCA):
Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA) is home to: –
- About 25,000 large animals, mostly ungulates, along side the highest diversity of mammalian predators in Africa including the densest known population of lion,
- NCA harbors a range of endangered species such as: – Black Rhino, Wild Hunting Dogs, and Golden cat,
- NCA houses one of the largest animal migrations on earth- over 1 million wildebeests, about 80,000 Zebras and about 350,000 Thompson and Gant gazelles.
- NCA is home to about 500 bird species. The mix of forests, canyons, grasslands, lakes and marshes form an ideal habitant for enormous variety of birds. During the season, the arrival of Eurasian migrants at the open pools lights up NCA While storks and yellow Wagtails mingle with the local inhabitants; stilts, saddle bill, Ibis, Ruff and Various species of Duck. Lesser Flamingos fly in to breed from their breeding grounds at lake Natron. Distinctive grassland birds such as Ostrich, Kori Bustards, and crown cranes occasionally put on truly magnificent displays.
NGORONGORO CRATER
The crater covers an area of 304sqkm and its diameter is 19.5km, while its depth is 630m. The crater flow is Dominated by open grassland and has a patch of woodland known as Lerai forest that provides shelter for animals such as Elephants, Eland, Monkey and various bird species
NGORONGORO-SERENGETI-MARA GREAT MIRGRATION
During the periods of January through March, the southern Serengeti National Park and the western part of NCA (Not the Ngorongoro Crater) is inhabited by an estimated 1.5 million herds of wildebeest and Zebra, which is part of the greatest migration of wild ungulates.
From as early as December the migration starts to move into Ngorongoro conservation Area. The short grass plains here are rich in nutrition which provides the herds with the best conditions to raise their newborn. Mid February is calving season when approximately 8,000 wildebeests are born every day for a period of approximately 3 weeks, thereafter the area around Lake Ndutu on the western part of Ngorongoro is the place to be at this time of the year. About 400,000 Zebra and about 200,000 gazelles accompany the wildebeests along.
Let us take you on this wonderful adventure.
