Into the crater

Trip Start Sep 04, 2008

Trip End Oct 13, 2008

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Flag of Tanzania Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania
Saturday, September 13, 2008

We woke up extra early (again) and had breakfast for 6am, leaving our campsite at 6.30 to head down into Ngorongoro Crater. It was very misty in the morning and cold, but we still drove down with the 4WD roof off. Driving down into the crater was like driving into a giant volcano (albeit a few 1000 year old volcano). It has the highest density of animals. It also has 2 massive lakes so that the animals have water year round. If I was a lion I would live here. You have all the food just waiting for you.
It didn't take long for us to see our first pride of lions, think there was about 7 of them but they were off in the distance and only really visible through the binoculous, so we continued on hoping to see our final Big 5 - Rhino. Along the way we drove with 2 cheetahs. Probably about 5-10 metres from the 4WD. Then the worst thing that could happen on a game drive - other than a kill of course - was a flat tire - on OUR 4WD!!! Alas - we think the drives must train with the Formula 1 Pit Crews, as they had our car hoisted and wheel changed in about 2minutes flat. So quick - of course it may have had something to do with the 2 cheetahs just roaming 20 metres away... but we were all good, we stayed in the car!
We watched the cheetahs for a while - it was fascinating to see all the animals just stare in their direction and when they seemed to get too close all the gizelle would turn and run for their lives. Think the cheetahs were just playing with them!
We left the cheetahs and headed to the Hippo Pool and had our cameras poised for the big yawning photo, but alas they would not perform, so after about 20minutes of watching them sleep, roll over in the water and sleep again we headed off for something else.

We drove across the plains and through any area the guide could think of to find us our Rhino.

Another hippo pool

Mobile phone rings - and it's a tip off... for lions.
We take a gamble and cross a small river and head to the side opposite all the other 4WDs. I wonder why were are here on our own and hope that something will happen. Then from out of the bushes walked 3 lionesses. Hung around a little and climbed a tree. We thought nothing more would happen and decided to perhaps move on. The 4WD starts to move and Anthony calls for it to stop. The lioness is walking straight for us. Like dead straight. To MY window. (which was closed). She then brushed past the car and around the back, down the other side and off down the dirt road to where some other cars had parked (I should point out when I say cars I do mean massive 4WDs). As the lion reaches another car and woman stands up so fast she nearly falls off. It is a scary moment for all, as we were told the lion for have felt threatened and that perhaps she was breakfast, but thankfully for this silly woman she steadied herself. We watched these 3 lions for about and hour. They were setting up for a kill (breakfast) but we couldn't stay any longer - off we hunt for our Rhino. Again.

Driving, driving, driving... and nothing. A toilet stop at another Hippo Pool, chance to stretch the legs and take some photos then back in the 4WD to head out of the Park. We have several sightings of a Rhino, but after hoping for one for so long, even a buffalo began to look like a rhino if it had its head turned the right way.

Alas - our Rhino is still eluding us.

We have lunch back at camp, pack up our tents and drive back to Arusha and the Snake Park for dinner and drinks at the campsite bar.