Geographic & Administrative Overview


Location & Size
Ngorongoro District spans 14,036 km², with approximately 13,460 km² of land and 576 km² of water .
It shares borders with Kenya to the north, Karatu District to the west, and Longido and Monduli districts to the east .


Administrative DivisionsThe district comprises three divisions: Ngorongoro, Loliondo, and Sale . It includes roughly 20–28 wards, depending on reporting—major ones: Arash, Digodigo, Malambo, Nainokanoka, Olbalbal (with Olduvai Gorge), Loliondo, Sale, and Soitsambu .


District HeadquartersSituated in Loliondo town (Orgosorok Ward), which is officially the district’s administrative center .





? Population & Demographics


Population Growth:



2002: ~129,776 residents


2012: 174,278 total; 82,610 males and 91,668 females, averaging 4.8 persons/household, 2.9% annual growth


2022: ~273,549 inhabitants




Ethnic Composition & Livelihoods:Majority are Maasai pastoralists, alongside small Sonjo farming communities in northern Loliondo .





? Natural & Cultural Highlights


Conservation Area & Land Use:The Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA) covers ~8,292 km²—about 60% of the district—and is a UNESCO Biosphere and World Heritage Site. It uniquely balances wildlife conservation, Maasai pastoralism, and tourism Established in 1959, the NCAA manages the area under a philosophy of integrated land use .


Key Features & Attractions:



Ngorongoro Crater: Largest intact volcanic caldera (~610 m deep, 260 km² floor)


Active Volcanos: E.g., Ol Doinyo Lengai and Empakaai Crater (6 km diameter, 300 m depth, lake-filled)


Olduvai Gorge & Laetoli Footprints: Crucial anthropological sites


Wildlife: Home to the Great Migration (wildebeest, zebra, gazelles) and high concentrations of predators and rhinos .







? Governance & Economy


Revenue & Administration:The District Council receives 25% of NCAA’s audited tourism revenue . NCAA administers Ngorongoro Division, while the Council manages education, health, veterinary services, and supports staffing and pharmaceuticals .


Challenges & Land Management:Subsistence farming is officially prohibited in the NCA to protect wildlife corridors; cultivation was temporarily allowed during past emergencies . Overgrazing, settlement growth, and pastoralist resettlement are ongoing concerns .





? Infrastructure & Public Services


Education & Health Facilities (2016 data):



67 primary schools (62 public); school enrolment ~53% for ages 7–13, with urban–rural disparity


2 hospitals, 5 health centers, 26 pharmacies; only ~4% of population covered by health insurance (2012) .







? Summary
Ngorongoro District is a vast, biodiverse, and culturally rich area central to Tanzania’s tourism and conservation achievements. It hosts a resilient Maasai pastoral population, globally significant geological and archaeological landmarks, and one of the world’s most unique models of integrated land use—balancing wildlife, indigenous lifestyles, and economic development.