Tanzania Safari Part 3 – Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Last Updated on February 12, 2024 by Travelationship

From Serengeti, we headed for the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Mykoni explained that the difference between the national park and the conservation area was that a limited number of people were allowed to live there. As we crossed our way back through the conservation area, we passed by a few Maasai villages and several Maasai out traversing the landscape or tending to their cattle.

Safari at Ngorongoro Crater

We camped the night on the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater and then headed into it the following day at sunrise. The campsite was the largest of the three campsites we had visited, quickly filling to what seemed like capacity. The bathrooms had warm water and squat-only toilets. The campsite sat perched on the edge of the rim, so the view over the crater was breathtaking.

We weren’t expecting to see many animals on the rim because it’s covered in dense woods and quite cold, but we were quickly proven wrong. An incredibly intelligent giant bull elephant frequents the camp to use one of the water tanks as its drinking hole. It leisurely strolled between the kitchen and the bathroom facilities to drink as we all gawked at how close it was to us. In the morning, we woke to zebras and fresh zebra poop all over the campsite. From that moment on, we were convinced always wear shoes and use a flashlight when milling about the camp area, as we saw several people learning this the hard way.

Early Morning in the Crater

Our guide, Mykoni, was a genius and told us to go to bed early because we were to leave for the crater before everyone. The night before, we thought he was crazy, but when we awoke to frigid temps in the morning, we couldn’t wait to get into the crater and bake in the sun. We were up so early it took about an hour inside the crater before we warmed up, but the early arrival was incredible.

Surrounded by the crater walls on all sides and a dome of dark clouds above the harsh morning light provided an awe-inspiring backdrop for some of our most dramatic photos ever. We were the only ones in the crater for a long time, and the views and the stillness inside were a once-in-a-lifetime experience. We were even so lucky to have been the only ones to see 3 (pfshh! everyone else only saw two) rhinoceroses that day.

Wrapping Up Ngorongoro and the Safari

We headed back to the rim to eat brunch and packed up to head back to Moshi. We were lucky to have seen all the animals we did and had such perfect weather, too. A big part of why we had such an amazing time was because Mykoni and Jimmy were so fantastic. We observed some other guides and chefs in action, and none compared.

Materuni Shining Through

The Materuni guys were very well-liked and respected within their peer group, which gave each of them a bit of a leg up on things. We always seemed to be the 1st truck or two too-high sought-after viewing areas. Mykoni’s communication with the other guides and the Rangers for each park was apparent, and we felt it helped us have a better experience.

Since our Safari, we have met quite a few people who have made the same or similar trips with other companies. Quite a few raved about their journeys, but none seemed to have seen as many animals as we had. Of course, everyone’s experience is different, but we firmly believe that Mykoni’s expertise and rapport with his peers help him find the animals faster.

Thank you, Materuni Tours. The experience exceeded our expectations! If you plan a trip to Tanzania for a safari, Kilimanjaro trek, or Zanzibar beaches, give Materuni Tours a look.

Ngorongoro at a Glance

Ngorongoro Conservative Area: is 8,292 sq km (3,201 sq miles) and 180 km (110 mi) west of Arusha in the Crater Highlands area of Tanzania. The conservation area is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. website

When to Go: Year-round.

Why Go: The most notable reason for going is to visit the Ngorongoro Crater. This natural wonder is a deep, volcanic crater, the world’s largest unflooded and unbroken caldera. At about 20kms across and 600 meters deep, the crater is teeming with life and is noted as the highest density of both lions and overall predators in Africa.

Know Before You Go:

Dry Season Tips:

• Bring large plastic bags or something to cover your smaller items inside your vehicle. The windows are constantly open, so dust comes in everywhere.
• Bring a dust mask or bandana to help keep the dust at bay.
  Only bring what you need. Space is very limited in the trucks and the tents. It’s a pain to un/load your extra items every day.

Packing Tips

• If you are on extended travel, do not bring your pillow/sleeping bag. Rent from Materuni. It helps save you space and reduce hassle, and you don’t have to worry about keeping it all clean throughout your trip.
• It’s warm out there. Keep hydrated. Dress in layers. Bring a hat but be careful of wind gusts.
• If you are going to the Ngorongoro Crater, the rim is cold, but the crater itself is warm. Bring cold weather clothes for the rim. I was so cold; I had to wear a hat, gloves, 4-layers of shirts and two jackets.
• Bring your flip-flops, towels, and toiletries for bathing.

General Tips:

• The bathroom situation varies from squat toilets to western-type toilets, some with toilet paper. It’s best to keep toilet paper in your pocket, just in case. Running water in some areas and some areas not.
• If your group stops for a bathroom break – GO! You don’t know how long it may be until you reach the next stop.
• Showers were available at each of the campsites. Hot water was only available at the Ngorongoro Crater Rim campsite. The others had no hot water or warm water.
• Alcohol, snacks, and sodas were available at an additional cost at the Serengeti and Ngorongoro campsites. You can also ask your booking company about bringing your food/beverages.

Wildlife Viewing Etiquette:

• Don’t scream, yell, bang on the vehicle, whistle, or act like an A**hole toward the animals.
• Don’t talk loudly and carry on while stopped and viewing animals. Your chit-chat is annoying and ruins the moment for the rest of us quietly viewing the animals.

General:

• Budget to tip your guide and your chef! If you are unsure what to tip, discuss it with your other group members or your booking company contact.
• We experienced two mechanical issues and saw several other problems with other trucks. These trucks are driving on rough dirt roads day in and day out. Expect at least 1 issue. Be patient; it is part of the journey. Our mechanical issue led us to one of the best moments of the entire Safari. Had we not had to stop to get a part fixed, we would have long driven by a leopard climbing up and down a tree at sunset.

Travelationship Rating:

5 out of 5 Travelationship High Fives. If you like wildlife, adventure, nature, outdoors, camping, romance, or bucket list experiences, this trip is for you.

Contact Ambrose at Materuni Tours for booking details and prices.

*Note: We prefer to pay for big-ticket items via credit card (for the points). Currently (as with most Tanzania companies), Materuni does not accept payment via cc. All payments are made through either wire transfer or cash.

More Reading for Tanzania

• Tanzania Safari Part 1 – Tarangire National Park
• Tanzania Safari Part 2 – Serengeti National Park
• Hiking Kilimanjaro Base Camp with Materuni Tours

See More Photos on Flickr, and Please look for us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

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* Thank you to Materuni Tours for providing us with a discounted safari. As always, our opinions are ours – honest, not biased, and as we experienced.