According to UNESCO estimates, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area is home to approximately 25,000 large mammals. Here, you can see the Big Five: elephants, rhinos, lions, leopards, and buffalo, along with other famous African animals such as hippos, zebras, antelopes, servals, and warthogs.
Most of these animals live in a compact area of 260 km² (100 mi²). On a safari drive, you will encounter new wildlife every 10-15 minutes of travel. This is one of the reasons why Ngorongoro is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Ngorongoro is also one of the most interesting destinations in Tanzania for birders. Over 600 species of birds can be spotted here!
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is located in northern Tanzania. It borders Serengeti to the west and Lake Manyara to the south. The city of Arusha, the main tourist hub of Tanzania, is 190 km (118 mi) away; this is about a 4-hour drive by car.
Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) through which most travelers enter Tanzania, is 250 km (155 mi) away.
Travelers usually visit Tarangire National Park before heading to Ngorongoro. Tarangire is closer to Arusha, making it convenient to visit on the way to Ngorongoro. After a safari in Ngorongoro, you can head to the famous Serengeti National Park. The drive takes about 3 hours, allowing you to reach your hotel by evening to rest before starting your safari the next day.
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is located in northern Tanzania. It borders Serengeti to the west and Lake Manyara to the south. The city of Arusha, the main tourist hub of Tanzania, is 190 km (118 mi) away; this is about a 4-hour drive by car.
Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) through which most travelers enter Tanzania, is 250 km (155 mi) away.
Travelers usually visit Tarangire National Park before heading to Ngorongoro. Tarangire is closer to Arusha, making it convenient to visit on the way to Ngorongoro. After a safari in Ngorongoro, you can head to the famous Serengeti National Park. The drive takes about 3 hours, allowing you to reach your hotel by evening to rest before starting your safari the next day.
On a Ngorongoro Crater safari, you can see the majority of the famous animals of Tanzania. Most of them do not leave the crater’s confines, and thousands of mammals inhabit the small area simultaneously. You can see practically all the main savanna inhabitants in a day.
The estimated number of large mammals in the Ngorongoro Crater in 2020 was derived from research conducted by a team of scientists that included Patricia D. Moehlman and Joseph O. Ogutu. Their study, titled “Long-term historical and projected herbivore population dynamics in Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania,” provides detailed population estimates for the crater’s wildlife:
The count does not include small mammals such as servals, caracals, warthogs, and foxes. The team of researchers estimates the total number of mammals in Ngorongoro to be around 25,000. This number is not constant, as animals periodically move in and out of the crater.