Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority

The Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority (NCAA) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in northern Tanzania, within the Arusha Region. Covering approximately 8,292 square kilometres (3,200 square miles), it encompasses a diverse range of landscapes, including highland plains, savannas, woodlands, and forests. The area is renowned for the Ngorongoro Crater, the world’s largest intact volcanic caldera, which spans about 264 square kilometres (102 square miles) and rises 610 meters (2,000 feet) above the crater floor.

Geographically, NCAA is situated southeast of Serengeti National Park and forms part of the Eastern (Great) Rift Valley. It lies approximately 120 kilometres (75 miles) west of Arusha city, making it accessible for traveller’s exploring Tanzania’s northern safari circuit.

In addition to its geological significance, the NCAA is a vital habitat for a wide array of wildlife, including the annual calving process of wildebeests in Ndutu plains. The area also holds cultural importance, as it has been home to the semi-nomadic Maasai people, who have coexisted with the region’s wildlife for generations.