Ngorogoro Crater

CLICK HERE: TODAY'S PHOTO ALBUM

Got on the road around 7am.  Nothing much exciting happened on the way out of the Serengeti.  Passed some more ostrichs on the side of the road. We made a tourist stop at Oluvai Gorge the site where they found the oldest human skulls.

 Arrived at the crater at around 11ish.The crater was created when the volcanic mountain erupted and left the crater.  Lava spewed and created the plains of the Serengeti. This is the world's largest caldera.  Ngorogoro means bowl or the sound the Masai cow bell - pick one.  This is Masai country. The government pushed them out of the Serengeti to make it a conservation area. So they moved to Ngorogoro. The Masai originated in Ethopia and migrated south following the water. 

The most entertaining part of the day was when we ran into two lions trying to cool off in the bucket of a front loader.  There is a lot of construction going on down there.  They are building new roads.  These lions were a hoot to watch.  The driver had a hard time getting back in and then had to gently try to move them.  After that show, we saw two black rhinos.  Best viewing Geoff and I have ever had of the elusive beast. This also happens to be birthing season for the gnu. Lots of little ones around. We were hoping to witness a birth but no luck.  

Stopped for a picnic lunch down by a lake. This place was a mass of jeeps. But  lo and behold an ice cream truck!!  What a treat!

The animals in the crater stay in the crater.  There is no migration.  There are no cheetahs here.  They could not survive their preditors so they moved out. There are plenty of gnu, cape buffalo, zebra, lions, and black rhino.  Came upon some flamingos hanging out in the lake.  The lake is salt water so this is not a source for the animals. They drink from a river stream that feeds down from the rain forest.

Left the crater via the rain forest and drove through a very prosperous part of Tanzania to get to the Ngorogoro Coffee Lodge.  This place is on a beautiful coffee planation.  This is pure culture shock!   Very la-di-dah with lots of room a wonderful outdoor shower, etc., etc.  The only thing we won't have is falling asleep to the lion's roar. Checked in took an outdoor shower, rinsed all the dust out of our clothes and headed to pool.  Aahhhh. Tomorrow we are off to meet Alex in Arusha then up to the Kenya border where we are passed back over to Juma who will take us to Tsvao. Another long day. Sweet dreams!

Next time... Tsavo National Park