AREA & ACTIVITIES

Habitat & Wildlife

The Ngorongoro Highlands sit on the western edge of the Great Rift Valley as it curves south-westwards from the desolate Lake Natron past Lake Manyara to the remote Lake Eyasi. These highlands are the remnants of an ancient chain of volcanoes, most of which are now entirely dormant. The only active volcano here now is Oldoinyo L’Engai, to the north of the Ngorongoro itself and at the southern end of Lake Natron. The upper highlands are home to Maasai pastoralists who live a traditional lifestyle, co-existing with the resident game.

The Ngorongoro Crater lies within the 8,000 sq. km Ngorongoro Conservation Area and is one of the natural scenic wonders of the world. The magnificent crater is a ‘caldera’ or collapsed crater which is 16-19 km in diameter with an unbroken rim. The altitude of the crater rim is around 2,250 metres, with the crater floor some 650 metres below.

The crater contains a large animal population throughout the year, including lion, leopard, cheetah (sporadic), elephant, black rhino, buffalo, hippo, hyaena, eland, zebra, giraffe, gazelle, ostrich, golden jackal, serval, African wild cat and wildebeest (wildebeest calving occurs around January).  The birdlife is prolific too, with flocks of flamingos Lake Magadi.

The Crater floor has a number of habitats – the southern side includes a number of ‘crater lakes’ and an extensive acacia woodland known as Lerai Forest, whereas to the northern side the habitat is one of open grassland. Thick montane forests cover the steep sides and rim.

Perhaps because the Ngorongoro Crater is so special, it receives a very high number of visitors and the crater floor can be subject to overcrowding particularly in the busier tourist months from July to September and at Christmas/New Year. No off-road driving is allowed and the crater is only accessible during daylight hours. There are a number of tourist lodges along the crater rim and in the surrounding highlands.

To the south of the Ngorongoro Crater the fertile land is used heavily for farming crops and coffee. Around the village of Karatu there are various good tourists lodges which offer easy access to the crater, as well further afield to Lake Manyara and Lake Eyasi.

Lake Manyara National Park lies in the Great Rift Valley at the foot of the Ngorongoro Highlands. The 325 sq. km park has a charm which is completely different from other wildlife areas. The terrain consists of five distinct vegetational zones: groundwater forest with towering mahogany and fig trees, grassy glades, extensive marshland reeds, parkland scattered with acacia trees and the scrubland of the 305m high Rift Valley wall, plus the 230 sq. km lake itself. Manyara has a high-density population of elephant, particularly young calves. The lions are known for their ‘tree-climbing’ habits, but they are not always easy to locate. Other animals to be found include buffalo, giraffe, leopard, zebra, bushbuck, reedbuck, waterbuck, impala, gazelle, baboon and both vervet and blue monkey. Near the hot springs, klipspringer can be observed on the rocky outcrops. Vast numbers of (migratory) water birds can be seen, particularly flamingo, pelican, stork, sacred ibis, grebe and cormorant, when the lake if full. In recent years however, this has only occurred during the rains and for a short time thereafter. The total number of bird species is in excess of 350.

Activities

All guests arrive at Plantation Lodge with their own private vehicle and guide, with the aim to visit the Ngorongoro Crater and perhaps also Lake Manyara (if they have not already visited this park en route, which is often practical to do). Closer to Plantation Lodge it is possible to explore local villages and the local town of Karatu. There are some local walks available with a resident guide at Plantation able to take walks from the lodge.

Seasons

Plantation Lodge is open all year round, though it is best to visit the Ngorongoro Highlands between December and March, or from June to October.