Tanzania’s Vice President, Dr. Philip Isdor Mpango, has called for sustained national and global efforts to protect the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site he described as a symbol of Tanzanian pride and a key driver of the country's tourism economy.
Speaking in Arusha on Tuesday, Dr. Mpango visited the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority (NCAA) exhibition booth at the opening of the 2nd Pan-African Media Council Summit, which has brought together over 200 media professionals and policymakers from across Africa.
“Ngorongoro is not just Tanzania’s heritage it’s a gift to the entire world,” Dr. Mpango said. “Let us keep preserving it and inspire more Tanzanians and international visitors to come and witness the wonder that is Ngorongoro.”he added
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is one of Africa’s most iconic ecological zones, home to a vast array of wildlife and archaeological heritage.
Briefing the Vice President, NCAA’s Chief Tourism Officer, Peter Makutian, said the site offers visitors a unique blend of natural and historical attractions among them the Ngorongoro, Empakai and Olmoti craters, Mount Lolmalasin (Tanzania’s third-highest peak), and the world-renowned Olduvai Gorge, considered the cradle of humankind.
Other highlights include the rare shifting sands phenomenon, the ancient Laetoli hominin footprints, the wildebeest calving grounds of the Ndutu plains, and waterfalls, forests, and archaeological sites such as the Mumba Caves and Engaruka Ruins.
NCAA also manages heritage sites beyond the area, including the Amboni Caves in Tanga and the Mbozi Meteorite.
Makutian noted that Ngorongoro was recently named Africa’s Leading Tourist Attraction for 2025 at the World Travel Awards, following a similar win in 2023 underscoring its continued global recognition.
The 2nd Pan-African Media Council Summit, held at the Arusha International Conference Centre (AICC), runs through July 17.
The NCAA is among several institutions showcasing Tanzania’s tourism potential to regional and international delegates attending the summit.