The Ngorongoro Conservation Area has won a continental award for sustainable tourism and conservation management, drawing praise from conservation stakeholders who say the recognition highlights Tanzania’s natural heritage and conservation efforts.
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority (NCAA) received the Excellence in Sustainable Tourism and Conservation Management Award at the Africa Business Forum & Awards 2026 in Accra, Ghana.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, the Tanzanian Conservation and Heritage Initiatives (TCHI) congratulated the authority, saying Ngorongoro had outperformed 54 competitors from across Africa.
The award recognises the importance of managing natural and cultural heritage while promoting tourism that delivers lasting benefits to communities and the environment.
TCHI said the recognition reinforced Ngorongoro’s international standing as a destination combining wildlife conservation, cultural heritage and sustainable tourism.
The conservation area is renowned for its volcanic caldera, diverse wildlife and the coexistence of pastoralist communities and their livestock with wildlife.
These features make conservation management particularly important as Tanzania seeks to grow tourism while protecting sensitive ecosystems and supporting local livelihoods.
TCHI commended NCAA Conservation Commissioner Abdul-Razaq Badru, the authority’s board and management for their leadership in conservation and resource management.
The organisation also praised the government’s support for conservation, noting that Badru had dedicated the award to Tanzanians, President Samia Suluhu Hassan, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, and tourism and conservation stakeholders.
Speaking at the awards ceremony, Mr Badru said the recognition strengthened the authority’s responsibility to protect Ngorongoro’s natural and cultural heritage while ensuring conservation benefits both people and nature.
“We exist to protect this living masterpiece, to share its wonders with the world and to inspire generations through the timeless story of Ngorongoro,” he said.
“This recognition reaffirms our responsibility to safeguard its extraordinary natural and cultural heritage while ensuring that conservation creates lasting value for people, nature, and future generations,” he added.
The award comes as Tanzania continues to rely on its wildlife and natural attractions to draw international visitors and generate economic opportunities through tourism.
However, sustaining such recognition requires conservation institutions to balance tourism development with the protection of ecosystems and the interests of communities living within and around protected areas.
For Ngorongoro, the challenge is to translate international recognition into stronger conservation outcomes, responsible tourism and tangible benefits for communities whose livelihoods are closely linked to the area.
TCHI said the achievement demonstrated Tanzania’s contribution to conservation and sustainable tourism across the continent.