Bucket Blog: Ngorongoro Crater

Central Serengeti to Ngorongoro - Day 6

After the spectacular day of game viewing yesterday, Kathy's Day, we arose to this beautiful sunrise and prepared to venture off on another exciting adventure to Ngorongoro Crater.

Like Chaka camp, Kiota camp was outstanding and the staff was so warm and kind. Even after 2 days it's sad to say good-bye.

The 3 hour ride eastward was on a road that reminded me of those beds in the old motels you put a quarter in. There was continuous, teeth-rattling vibration that I think I'm still feeling today. If I had any loose parts in me I'm sure they've fallen off now. Safari roads, in general, are not for the prissy, high-maintenance types. I can assure you of this. :-)

Along the way as we left the Serengeti region and entered the Ngorongoro region, we saw many Masai going about their daily duties consisting of shepherding, farming and washing clothes. It's amazing how young some of the Masai boys are shepherding their flocks of goats, cattle and sheep.

We ascended as we headed eastward from an average Serengeti altitude of around 4500ft to a final elevation of 7400ft and the Crater's rim. We arrived at the entrance to the Crater and it was breathtaking. It used to be a huge mountain, 1000s of years ago, but it collapsed on itself to make one of the most remarkable animal "Garden of Eden" spots in the world.

Masai checking his cellphone - surreal

We descended into the crater for about 4 hours of game viewing before ascending back out. It would be on this day we would see one of the most rare findings there is and yes, we were so fortunate to see it. There are only one-way roads in and out. Two roads in and 2 roads out and very steep. After exiting the crater, we drove around the rim a bit to our spectacularly, situated hotel - the Serena Lodge. We got checked in to our awesome room right on the crater's edge, ordered a bottle of wine and enjoyed the breathtaking view as the sun set behind us lighting up the crater with a soft glow.

Large Masai Village

The next day, we got up extremely early to enter the crater just after it opened at 6am. The sunrise was beautiful as we were descending, it was quite chilly but the crisp, fresh air brought about an anticipation of a great day to be had.

We exited the crater in time to eat a hot lunch at the Serena Lodge. This would be our first hot lunch since we started. All the other Safari days, we took a box lunch so we wouldn't have to return to camp.

First time seeing the Ngorongoro Crater

Serengeti exit gate - Serengeti plains in the background

Red Headed Adama Lizard

Superb Starling

Flamingo Landscape

Throw in a couple Hippos for the Flamingo Landscape - :-)

I'm so tired... so sleepy..

Grey Crowned Crane

Grey Crowned Cranes in flight

3 little Ibis all in a row

Augur Buzzard in flight

You say Warthog I say Hogwart, tomato, tomato

African Cape Buffalo

One of the BIG 5

Nap time

If this doesn't define cute - I'm not sure what does

Grant's Gazelle

The day of the Jackal

I'm cute but keep your distance - ya hear

Another breathtaking view

Male Ostrich - "where are all the girls?"

And another Secretary Bird

Ahh.. the Ku De Ta of the day - the rare Black Rhino and wow were we fortunate to be this close

As our guide, Maningo, told us, being able to see the Rhinos so closely was very rare. I guess mostly they're so far away from the roads that they're barely recognizable even with strong binoculars. The Rhinos are an endangered species and there aren't many of them around.

You wanna mess with me? Probably a bad idea

Rhinos - also one of the BIG 5

The Rhinos and their 'distant cousin' as I like to call them (the warthog).

The view from our veranda

Great spot for end of day relaxing

Ngorongoro Crater - Day 7

As I mentioned before, we rose early to take in all Ngorongoro Crater has to offer - spectacular sunrises and game galore. We took boxed breakfasts with us as our plan today was to get in early game viewing and get back to the lodge while they were still serving a hot lunch. It would be the only hot lunch we would have on the entire Safari because normally we were out all day and had boxed lunches.

The cool thing about Safari is that you're never quite sure what you're going to see. Each moment of each day is very dynamic and has a pallet all its own.

What a sunrise - so worth it!

The first thing we saw on the way down were 'cat tracks' and they were fresh. This could be good.

Yep, right on cue as our guide Maningo suggested, we found the cats walking very contentedly to get a nice, long drink of water.

Oh that water is going to taste good - just don't get in my way!

Meow - yes I'm one of the BIG 5

These Baboons were a bit concerned with the cats drinking
below - fun to have a tree of baboons though. :-)

A Weaver's nest - after they're done with it, they share it
with other birds

Secretary bird - i think they're so cool

Why Secretary bird - because of they're long legs and when
they use their claws to kill prey it sounds like someone typing

Black Backed Jackal cubs we came across. They were incredibly cute - just playing and not near as afraid of our vehicle as the grown-ups. I'm sure mommy Jackal wouldn't have been happy with her kids had she known they were showing off for us.

Kori Bustard

Flamingo Landscape

Bunch of messy, lazy Hyenas after their long night of
hunting

Silly Zebras - frolicking

still frolicking....

Zebras not frolicking

Ok, they're frolicking again - :-)

Guinea Fowl

Only a face a mother could love

Not even a mother could love this face... scary Hyena

Wow - what a landscape

Who wouldn't want 3 Red-billed Oxpeckers on their head.

This sight was quite common with all the animals we've seen. There's a whole species of birds that land on the big mammals and eat the ticks off them.