Ngurdoto crater is found in Arusha National Park and is an awe-inspiring attraction on its own. It is a caldera of an extinct volcano; that is the remains of an ancient and large volcano. Ngurdoto has a ring road that allows fabulous views down into the lush crater interior. In the past it has only been possible to drive up and around the crater rim. The drive takes you through the misty forest of ancient Cedar trees inhabited by the nimble black and white colobus monkeys. The shy leopards are the main predator and attraction in this area. There are no lions in this park apart from the odd nomad visitor. Driving along the high ridges on the Crater edge provides a stunning view of the forests, glades and animal tracks that abound in this lush habitat. To leave your vehicle has not been possible until recently; but now you are allowed to walk around the rim. This crater has been called the mini Ngorongoro. In the past it has only been possible to drive up to the rim; now it is possible to explore the crater rim on foot. There is ongoing work clearing footpaths and signposting, which is almost compete. This added attraction will make this small beautiful park even more interesting to visit. The park also offers walking safaris and canoeing safaris on one of the many mountain lakes of the park. The walk around the crater is not steep and therefore an enjoyable walk for everyone. The crater is 400 meters deep and 3 kilometers wide. It is a steep sided bowl containing lush swamps and forest. The crater is home to elephant, buffalo, baboon, reedbuck, colobus monkeys, leopard and duikers. Mosses, ferns, lichens and orchids thrive in the damp atmosphere of the Crater, giving way to huge mahogany, olive and date palm trees on the drier crater walls. Descent into the Crater itself is not allowed. This creates a sanctuary within a sanctuary and leaves a large area of the park to the wildlife. The Arusha National Park covers and area 33,800 acres and consists of three spectacular features: the Momella Lakes, Ngurdoto Crater, and the majestic Mount Meru. In addition to being an excellent park for birders, Arusha National Park is one of the few places to see the black and white colobus monkey. Flamingoes can be seen in huge congregations in the Momella lakes. There is a beautiful mountain forest in the park with endemic species of plants and wildlife. The park is famous for its wide variety of bird life, both sedentary and migratory. At times it is possible to get a clear view of the snow-capped Mount Kilimanjaro, weather permitting. |
