The Big Five Animals of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
The Big Five of Ngorongoro Conservation Area: In the Crater Highlands of northern Tanzania, we find the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, which is very much a point of pride in terms of African wildlife conservation. In 1979, this area was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it covers about 8,292 square kilometres of many ecosystems, which also include the amazing Ngorongoro Crater, the world’s largest unfilled volcanic caldera.
Among what makes Ngorongoro stand out from other game viewing destinations is its amazing ability to support large and stable populations of the Big Five, a term which we use for the African lion, African leopard, African elephant, African buffalo, and black rhinoceros. These five species, which in the past were the greatest to hunt on foot, are today what guests look forward to the most on any Tanzania safari. At Ngorongoro Conservation Area, and also in a few other places in the world, a traveller will see all five of them together in the same closed ecosystem.
- The African Lion (Panthera leo)
The African lion is a very symbolic species of the Ngorongoro Crater, which is also home to what may be the most-watched lion population in the world. Presently, we see in the crater an estimated 60 to 70 lions which live in a few separate prides that have had the same home ranges in the caldera for many years.
The geologic isolation of the crater walls has created a population which is genetically different from lion populations in nearby areas, which include the Serengeti. This isolation has been a focus of present research, which is looking at the health and viability of the population over the long term.
From the point of view of the visitor, the lions in the crater are very used to human presence, which in turn gives guests great up-close experiences during morning game drives. Also, the open grassy plains of the crater floor present unobstructed views, which in turn produce very frequent and very rewarding lion sightings for the purposes of wildlife photography and behavioural study.
- The African Leopard (Panthera pardus).
The African leopard is the most elusive member of the Big Five in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. As a mainly nocturnal and solitary animal, the leopard is very hard to spot during daytime game tours. In the conservation area, leopards are mostly found at the forest edge of the crater and in denser vegetation on the caldera floor.
In Ngorongoro, reports of leopard sightings usually depend on the guide, who is very knowledgeable in the area; also, he may get info in real time from other guides in the crater. Also, it is noted that visitors should pay attention to acacia and fever trees, which are high in the canopy, as leopards tend to rest there during the day.
Despite the issues we have in tracking down reports of this species, at the Ngorongoro, which is a report in itself in Tanzania, one can still reliably expect to see leopards early in the morning, which is also a time when they’re known to come back from a night of hunting.
- African Elephant (Loxodonta africana).
In the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, African elephants are permanent residents; they move between the crater floor and the outlying highland forests according to the season. The crater is home to what has become a stable population of elephants, which for the most part are mature bulls that have large ivory, a feature which is seen less and less across the African continent because of past poaching.
Elephants in the reserve are very used to the presence of safari vehicles, which in turn gives visitors great and in-depth views of natural elephant behaviour, which includes foraging, socialising, and moving between habitat areas. We also report that it is a very visual experience to see elephant herds come down from the wooded edge into the open plains at the bottom of the crater, which is a very common occurrence in the area.
The African elephant is listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, and the protection which is put in place by the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority (NCAA) is key to the long-term survival of this population.
- The Black Rhinoceros (Syncerus caffer).
In the Ngorongoro Crater, the African buffalo is a very common large mammal with a resident population of several thousand. Large groups, which we may term herds, are a trademark of the crater’s landscape, and it is not rare for groups of several hundred to be seen moving as a unit across the open plains.
Despite its large population, the African buffalo is an animal that should not be put into a category of safety. We see them as some of the most dangerous animals in Africa, which is a reputation they earn through their unpredictable and aggressive behaviour, which they display especially when they feel threatened or injured. Also, it is the older males, which we term “dagga boys“, who tend to separate from the main herd and are usually seen alone or in small groups by the water, which they are very protective of and at which they also are very prone to conflict.
From an ecological perspective, the buffalo serves as a keystone grazer, which in turn is very much a part of the maintenance of grassland habitats that in turn support many other species.
- Black Rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis).
The black rhino is the most endangered of the Big Five, which also makes it the most important wildlife species in the Ngorongoro Crater. In Tanzania, we find what is reported to be the largest black rhino population in Africa, and in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, we have a small but very important group which at present numbers between 20 and 30 individuals.
The black rhino is listed as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List; over that time, we have seen a 96% drop in global populations, which is true of the mid-20th century. In that same period, we also saw intense poaching and habitat loss. What we have seen in the case of the Ngorongoro population is the success of intensive anti-poaching efforts which the NCAA has put in place and also the natural boundaries the crater provides, which have stabilised that population.
Sighting of black rhino in the crater is a rare but regular occurrence, which has made Ngorongoro one of the best places in Africa to see this species in the wild. We ask that a traveller inform their guide of their interest in rhino sightings at the start of game drives, as guides who operate in the crater have communication which allows for prompt and precise info.
Practical Guidance for Big Five Observation
To increase the chances of seeing all five species in the Ngorongoro Crater, we recommend the following:
- Timing: Morning game drives, which begin at the opening of the crater’s gates or very soon thereafter, report the greatest chance of lion activity, and we recommend them for early risers. We also put forth that full-day excursions are best for guests who wish to see all five species.
- Guide Selection: A key element to successful wildlife tours is the use of a professional, experienced guide. Guides who have in-depth crater experience report on very well-known resident animal locations and can detail movement patterns, thus greatly improving the quality and success of wildlife interactions.
- Seasonal Awareness: During the dry season, which runs from June to October, we see the best time for Big Five viewing, as it brings in reduced vegetation and also more concentrated water sources for better visibility and animal access. But the rainy season in November and the green season, which goes up to May, also have their pros, which in turn include better photo backgrounds and fewer visitors.
Conclusion
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is a very unique destination for wildlife viewing, which, in fact, houses populations of every Big Five animal at the same time in a defined space. What is also the case is that the NCAA conservation efforts, along with what might be called the natural efforts of the crater, have proved very effective in the persistent and indeed growing population of lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, and black rhinos in settings that also allow for quality and conscious wildlife observation.
For travellers who seek out authentic and in-depth safari experiences, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area is the best option on the African continent.
