The Ngorongoro Conservation Area's victory in winning the Excellence in Sustainable Tourism and Conservation Management Award at the Africa Business Forum & Awards 2026 in Accra, Ghana, has been applauded by various conservation stakeholders.
Among them is the Tanzanian Conservation and Heritage Initiatives (TCHI), which has congratulated the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority (NCAA) for clinching the major continental honour.
In a statement issued today, TCHI said Ngorongoro won the prestigious award at a colourful gala held in Accra, after surpassing 54 competitors from across the continent.
The landmark decision was witnessed by high-level delegations from 42 African nations, solidifying Ngorongoro's standing as a peerless global beacon of heritage and sustainable tourism.
TCHI said the award reaffirms Ngorongoro's immortal identity as the undisputed cradle of humankind, the primordial sanctuary where the first footfalls of humanity echoed.
"Ngorongoro stands alone: a masterpiece carved by eternity, revered by travelers and scholars alike as the true Garden of Eden. Within its majestic bounds lies the world's largest unbroken and intact caldera, plunging 610 meters down into a breathtaking bowl where Earth's magnificent megafauna roam in pristine abundance," the statement said.
The organization noted that Ngorongoro remains a living testament to ancient stewardship, where pastoralist communities and their livestock live in unbroken harmony alongside majestic wildlife.
TCHI paid glowing tribute to the NCAA Conservation Commissioner, Mr. Abdul-Razaq Badru, alongside the NCAA Board and Management, for their visionary leadership and transformative institutional excellence that has elevated resource management to unprecedented heights.
"We are deeply moved by the Commissioner's gracious dedication of this award to the people of Tanzania and, most fittingly, to Her Excellency President Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, tourism and conservation stakeholders, and our nation's Conservationist-in-Chief, whose strong political will and strategic foresight continue to champion our natural legacy," TCHI stated.
Speaking during the event, NCAA Conservation Commissioner Abdul-Razaq Badru highlighted the importance of promoting Africa's natural and cultural heritage while ensuring lasting economic, environmental, and social benefits.He said the recognition reaffirmed the Authority's responsibility to safeguard Ngorongoro's unique heritage while promoting responsible tourism and conservation.
"We exist to protect this living masterpiece, to share its wonders with the world and to inspire generations through the timeless story of Ngorongoro. 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," Mr. Badru said."
The Ngorongoro victory proves that through effort in conservation, sustainable tourism, visionary leadership, unshakeable dedication, and fierce reverence for our ancestral soil, Tanzania does not merely participate on the world stage.
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