Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Youu2019ll depart from Arusha at the crack of dawn for the long but scenic drive to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Along the way, youu2019ll pass bustling Maasai villages and sweeping plains dotted with acacia and the occasional giraffe or wildebeest.rnrnUpon arrival at the park, youu2019ll sign in and then begin the winding descent into the caldera. The mist shrouded rainforests of the mountain are home to cape buffalo and baboon troupes, and the particularly lucky might even spot a grazing elephant or a shy leopard moving through the dense green undergrowth.rnrnYouu2019ll stop at the Ngorongoro viewing area for a stunning view of the calderau2019s sheer scale. The shadows of clouds dapple the caldera floor, and the keen-eyed might spot the great herds of wildebeest and zebra moving about below. The sun glitters off the soda lakes and it all combines to make for a truly beautiful landscape.rnrnFrom here youu2019ll continue our descent into the caldera, where over 120 species of mammals go about their lives. The park is the best place in the northern circuit to see the black rhinoceros and the cape buffalo, but is home to the entirety of the Big Five. Weu2019ll also see large packs of hyenas as well as lesser known predators such as jackals and serval cats.rnrnYouu2019ll pay a visit to Lake Magadi, a vast salt lake which is a magnet for flamingoes and a number of other water birds such as pelicans and storks. A picnic lunch by the famous hippo pool is also a surreal experience, as youu2019ll take your lunch a few feet from where great hippopotamus wallow lazily in the cool water,rnrnAcross five hours, youu2019ll see the very best that Africa has to offer. In the late afternoon, with heads full of amazing memories, youu2019ll return to Arusharn