At 8 am we were driving towards the famous Ngorongoro Crater. We were up so high we’ were driving through clouds. The crater was filled with mist.
The whole crater is a protected place for the animals.

2.5 million years ago there was an eruption 

Largest unbroken crater. No girafffes or impala have..

220 square kilometres and 20 kilometres in diameter.

The first things we saw, on the very steep road down, were zebras and warthogs.

We saw a buzzard in a tree.

Bustard. Most of the time they don’t fly.

We were down by the lake, looking at some flamingos, when all of a sudden Houth said, “Get down!” and the jeep started reversing. One of the other drivers had see a Servil Cat’s head poke up out of the grass.
We sat there for what seemed like ages…

… and there it was.

A little while later, it gave up trying to hide and it strolled out.

Here are a couple of Grey crowned cranes doing a courtship dance. They look like synchronised swimmers here, don’t they?

Just down the road, we saw these lions basking in the morning sun. Then, while we were admiring the lions, Houth put his binoculars down and said, “Rhino! Get down! Hurry!”

omg. We saw rhinos from a LONG way away on our first game drive, but I wasn’t expecting another sighting. They’re notoriously difficult to spot.

Black Rhino. This is the most rare, and is very endangered. While we were there, the rangers showed up. The rangers keep an eye on the rhinos, making sure no one is harassing them. Every rhino is tagged, meaning the rangers can keep a constant eye on them.

We stayed watching him for ages. He lay down under a tree forever, then just as I was wondering why we were still there, he got up, started walking in a clearing and I got this shot.
My sister and Mum were visiting Dad in the hospital while I was watching the rhino, so I sent her this shot.

We kept telling Houth that we wanted to see a leopard. I don’t think this cuts the mustard, though!

Elephants. There were heaps of them, right beside the road.


We could hear them breaking branches and eating. Also making low noises to each other. There were a couple of babies and their mothers were keeping them between them, away from us.
As time went on, more joined them.

This one puffed out her ears at exactly the right time.

Newborn gazelle, only minutes old. Houth says that the mother will hide the baby in the tall grasses nearby, then leave for a while to draw the hyenas away. The baby won’t move until she returns.

They prefer to give birth around midday, because the liquid from the afterbirth will dry quickly. Eagles are also a worry.

We can hear the sound of the baby chirping to her.

Zebras looking for predators. Together, they have a 3360 degree view.

When an elephant reaches its last set of molars, he or she will isolate themselves and stay near food to preserve their teeth. This elephant is old, maybe 60 years old. He will be here until he dies.

Elephant graveyard myth came about because the old elephants die near water, then floods come and wash all the bones downstream to one spot. People assumed the elephants walked here to die.

Mother and baby hipppo.

We ended up seeing 9 Black Rhinos! Houth says we’re very lucky. These ones were a lot further away.

Flamingos.

Just all having a natter and walking along. I love them.

They’re so beautiful, with their backwards knees.

Elan. The largest antelope. They’re very delicious, apparently.

We were looking to take pictures of something else, but this guy was standing, definitely keeping an eye on us. He didn’t move a muscle until we left.

At lunch time, we passed by these two. It looked like they were having a day at the beach.

If you zoom in, you can see how close the lions and the wildebeest are to each other.
“The wildebeest definitely know that the lions are there,” said Houth.

Isn’t this just like a painting? We were heading off to a picnic place at a lake full of hippos when we saw jeeps clustered together. Always a dead giveaway that there’s something to see.

These two lions were the last animals we saw in the crater. How funny are they?

On our way back, we stopped to have an hour’s long walk along the rim, accompanied by two rangers toting stun guns. This came as a rude shock to me, as to me, walk are only fun if there’s a dog with you. However, the others all assured me that it was on the itinerary right from the start. (I really should start reading that thing.)

I have to admit, it was worth it for the view down into the crater. If you ever get the chance to come here, grab it with both hands!

Just to prove that it’s really me here.

WHAT a trip I’m having!

Dad Joke of the Day: