Day 7 – 9

Ngorongoro Crater

A veritable Garden of Eden, the Ngorongoro Crater is only 260 km2 (100mi2) in size yet has some of the highest densities of lion and spotted hyena found anywhere in the world. The view from the crater rim at 2,000 feet above the floor is nothing short of breathtaking. The thick mountain forests of the crater highlands strike a sharp contrast with the short grass plains of the crater floor with its yellow fever Acacia woodlands and streams. The soda lake Magadi in the center of the crater floor sometimes attracts lesser flamingos, and the area is known for very large tusked elephants, black rhino, and great predator action.

Easily accessible from Arusha, the three million year old Ngorongoro Crater was once a gigantic volcano that some suggest was even higher than Mt Kilimanjaro. It is the largest intact caldera in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Walks are available on the rim in certain areas, but game viewing on the crater floor is strictly by vehicle and on designated game drive routes. Local Maasai pastoralists and their villages surround the western side of the crater whilst the eastern side is heavily forested up to the farming town of Karatu.

Ngorongoro Conservation Area

The Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA) extends from the crater highlands all the way past Olduvai Gorge and onto the short grasslands of the southern Serengeti and Lake Ndutu. But the wildlife does not adhere to these boundaries and there is very good wildlife viewing, especially during peak calving season when the NCA plains play host to the Great Wildebeest Migration and the birth of hundreds of thousands of wildebeest in a short span of time. This brings predator action, especially with large hyena clans, cheetah, and the return of African hunting dogs.
The NCA is a protected area and a World Heritage Site located 180 km (111 miles) west of Arusha. The area is named after the Ngorongoro Crater, a large volcanic caldera whose name derives from the sound made by the cattle bells of the local Maasai pastoralists.

The Castle At Ngorongoro

The Castle at Ngorongoro offers guests an excellent base from which to explore the numerous attractions of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. With only eight rooms, guests are assured of hospitality befitting royalty in a location within easy reach of the Ngorongoro Crater and many other natural and cultural attractions. Whether lazing at the swimming pool, learning about the rich pre-history of the area, or wandering the forest trails in search of birds, there is an array of activities over and above game drives.

Experience & Activities
Over and above the legendary wildlife, guests at the Castle at Ngorongoro are free to relax entirely at the Castle or join a variety of interesting excursions to nearby attractions.

The Ngorongoro Crater lies within an extinct volcano, creating a uniquely enclosed ecosystem said to contain the greatest density of large mammals in Africa. Descend into the crater in a customized safari vehicle in the company of an experienced guide to witness the diversity of predators and prey and learn of their interdependence. Truly an iconic African wildlife experience.

There are a variety of activities to choose from when staying at The Castle. During your stay, you can focus on the wildlife, learn about modern Tanzanian culture, or get a glimpse of the origins of mankind.