Ngorongoro Crater Flamingos

Ngorongoro Crater flamingos are one of the attractions in Ngorongoro Conservation Area which travelers look to see while on their Ngorongoro Crater safaris all throughout the year when they visit Tanzania. Ngorongoro Crater is the world’s largest inactive caldera which teems with a variety of wildlife species including over 25,000 animals in the Ngorongoro Crater floor, and a wide variety of birds, like flamingos. Ngorongoro Crater is one of the most visited Tanzania national parks which sees a number of guests every single day of the year, looking to explore the amazing beauty of the Ngorongoro Crater and amazing wildlife there is.

The flamingos are the Lesser Flamingos, scientifically known as Phoeniconaias Minor. Flamingos dwell in salty areas, usually salty shallow lakes. The flamingos dwell in the salty Lake Magadi which attracts large flocks of flamingos that travellers who visit Ngorongoro Crater on Ngorongoro Crater drives get to see, filled with large flocks of pink flamingos which is a beautiful sight to gaze at.

The Ngorongoro Crater flamingos, as well as any other flamingos there are fees on dead algae which is often tomes found in the salty lakes that they inhabit. Lesser flamingos in Ngorongoro Crater are one of the flamingo species that inhabit Africa. The highest population of Lesser Flamingos are found in Lake Nakuru and Naivasha in Kenya, as well as Lake Manyara in Lake Manyara National Park Tanzania and Lake Magadi in Ngorongoro Crater.

There are 4 flamingo species in the world. Africa inhabits two species of flamingos, including the Lesser Flamingos and Greater Flamingos, which are not really so different with their main difference being in size only.

Ngorongoro Conservation Area inhabits the lesser flamingos. The Flamingos are small in size, social living in large groups of over 1000 individuals. Given that flamingos are social birds, it is very rare to find solo flamingos.

Ngorongoro Crater Flamingos
Flamingoes

They are attracted by the shallow alkaline Lake Magadi that is found in the middle of Ngorongoro Crater. Lake Magadi derives her name from the local Masai world Magadi which translates to salty. Ngorongoro Crater flamingos do not inhabit the Lake Magadi only but also the wetlands, lagoons of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Ngorongoro Crater flamingos feed not only on algae but also on crustaceans, brine shrimp, and also the plankton in Ngorongoro Crater as well as in the other area that they inhabit. The flamingos have bills which filter out and separate waste from food while they are feeding. Flamingos in Ngorongoro Crater among others have a unique feeding patter, usually seen tilting their heads upside down, continuously. The flamingos feed on algae that grows on Lake Magadi, turning them pink as well in the process.

Flamingos breeding season starts in the months of October to December, when the flamingos start laying out their nests. After making their nests, flamingos lay one egg, incubate it for 28 days. Incubation of the eggs is done by both the female and male flamingos. Upon hatching, the little flamingo chicks which are grey in colors feed on their eggshell whilst the adult flamingos feed on the milky juices. Feeding the little chocks is done by both the female and male flamingos, feeding them with milky liquids. The newly born chocks take about 1 week only before it leaves the nests to join the crèche, which is the group of thousands of chicks that is looked after by select adult flamingos. Watching this whole process is one of the most beautiful and unique things to watch while on Ngorongoro Crater flamingos.

Flamingos are not only in Ngorongoro Crater Tanzania but also in Lake Manyara found in Lake Manyara National Park that is one of the most visited Tanzania national parks.

They are not the only birds on Ngorongoro Crater that tourists can see while on Ngorongoro Crater safaris. Ngorongoro Crater birds are recorded to be more than 450 in number, which travellers can see while on birding safaris in Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Other Ngorongoro Crater birds include Long-Tailed Lapwing, Great White Pelican, Gray Heron, Hamerkop, among so many others.

Ngorongoro Crater Flamingos
Great White Pelican

With such large flocks of flamingos in Ngorongoro Crater, as well as over 450 birds in Ngorongoro Crater, birding safaris in Ngorongoro Crater are one of the best and most rewarding activities. The Ngorongoro Crater is one of the best birding safari destinations in Tanzania, with a number of sought after bird species.

With so many other attractions in Ngorongoro Crater, Ngorongoro Conservation Area safaris are very rewarding, having you enjoy amazing birding safaris as well as wildlife safaris.  Looking to see the flamingos among other Ngorongoro Crater birds? Get in touch with a reputable tour operator to help you pitch together an amazing Tanzania birding safari to see the various birds of Ngorongoro Crater.

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