Steppes In Africa; A Disney-inspired Safari- L is for: Life in the Crater- Large and Little- Ngorongoro Crater, Pt. 4 (7/13)

[pkondz]

...and yet not all was lost.

Phew!

I'd literally have no idea how or where to start. The peace of mind made the cost worth it.

Can totally see that.

LOL!! I got plenty of time, but didn't know that at the time I landed in the Lake Manyara area.

Aaaaannnddd... no idea why I quoted this.

Not everywhere, no. The flyswatters were used more in some areas, but I'll get to that!

And now you've seen VANloads of them!

I like it too. Not posed at all. I had given my phone to Freddie or Emanuel (I can't remember which) and they seemed to have a lot of fun filming and photographing, and didn't too bad a job AT ALL!

They did a really good job!

That's exactly how it was!

Someday, I'd love to go the places and hear some of the click langauges.

That'd be cool. I've seen it on YouTube, but...

I didn't know it, but there is one tribe of only about 3000 native speakers left RIGHT near Lake Manyara! Hmmmm, maybe I need another trip....

Well, darn!
And...

No, but did some research for the writing of that chapter, and there are some NGOs and Healthcare teams on the ground there trying some awareness and intervention campaigns to help the issue.

This was far from the only time...well, you'll see.

I didn't even notice until I was looking at the photo! Didn't see it when I was walking through the market!

I've done that.
"Here's a photo of... huh? Well, I'll be! I didn't know that was there!"

Also used too for putting hot pots on, like trivets.

That was my second guess. I'm on fire!

I think just blobs of rubber to repair tires maybe? I thought they were bells too! But, all of that store was entirely rubber.

Or repair shoes?

Right?! I wonder if it was all just dished up like that and then when I was done, they served the guides and staff?

I hope so. Tons of waste, otherwise... unless you ate far more than I think you did.

This was a very consistent thing throughout the whole trip. Like maybe they just needed to make very sure that a guest never felt like anything was stingy or underdone?

Ah! Maybe so. Makes sense.

This is one of the premiere places in Karatu to stay in, and I had ZERO idea of that when I booked the trip. I just agreed on a price and went along with what was arranged for me. Obviously, I'd highly recommend the company!

Wow! You definitely lucked out.

Yeah.... I toldja, this place was insane!

Sorry, I had actually put 2 photos of that one in the chapter, but had to take one out because I was over the photo limit. Here it is again- THE AFRICAN PARADISE FLYCATCHER... This is the best photo I could get as it was WAY up high in a tree and even my 400 lens made it crappy.

Either way... pretty bird.

It IS! Good eye- a Red-billed Hornbill.. but, the real question, is would I SEE one on my Safari....?!

Yuss..

And... No idea. I have no idea if they're rare or all over the place.

 

[Steppesister]

What a gorgeous place to stay!! And how wonderful the impeccable attention to detail and customer service it sounds like you received. Beautiful bird pictures, as well.

It was such a beautiful and amazing place. Next places you see are going to be quite a bit different although no less luxurious you’ll see…

 

[Steppesister]

Aaaaannnddd... no idea why I quoted this.

I’ve done that. The CRT syndrome is very real.

They did a really good job!

Did I mention that the chief also took a turn with my phone camera? I think he was the one that got some of those pictures of me with the children in the school.

That'd be cool. I've seen it on YouTube, but...

And there’s sadly so few native speakers left in some of these unique languages.

I've done that.
"Here's a photo of... huh? Well, I'll be! I didn't know that was there!"

I think sometimes the post editing is the best part of photography. You finally get to see those pictures on a bigger screen and see what you’ve really actually gotten.

Or repair shoes?

Your guess is certainly as good as mine!

I hope so. Tons of waste, otherwise... unless you ate far more than I think you did.

I definitely did not. I’m a pretty small eater and from this point on actually had to tell the waitstaff to bring me half portions.

Wow! You definitely lucked out.

I really did! And I’d do it all over again in a heartbeat

Either way... pretty bird.

It was quite likely the showiest bird I saw on the trip. Although I was sad that it was so high up in the trees. I’d say the great crowned crane was equally as beautiful.

And... No idea. I have no idea if they're rare or all over the place.

Not a rare bird, and on the list of “least concerned”.

 

[pkondz]

Did I mention that the chief also took a turn with my phone camera? I think he was the one that got some of those pictures of me with the children in the school.

No! Really!

I think sometimes the post editing is the best part of photography.

You finally get to see those pictures on a bigger screen and see what you’ve really actually gotten.

Yes!!

I really did! And I’d do it all over again in a heartbeat

 

[luvpoohandcompany]

I fixed that video for ya!

I love this video and totally disagree with the Chief. You looked like you were having so much fun and did a great job despite your bad knee. I love that you got into the spirit of the dance

 

[Steppesister]

J is for: Journey of a Lifetime- Nogorongoro Crater, Pt. 1/2
May 7th, 2025​

Well before dawn, the first of many days in a row of safari, was getting a misty start. My day bag was packed the evening before: Camera, gimbel, water bottle, passport, binoculars, phone, etc… I was warned to dress in layers; you’ll soon see why.

Ngorongoro Crater, which isn’t really a crater at all, but one of the world's only fully intact volcanic calderas, is home to an almost captive plethora of animal populations including some of the rarest animals on earth-both black and white rhinos. The “crater” rim is more than 2,000 feet high, towering over the caldera floor, and stands at an elevation of 7,900 ft ASL!! The rim above the crater floor is densely forested and often misty, especially in rainy season, such as this was. It’s no wonder that mornings can be quite chilly as one’s day gets started.

Emanuel and Freddy pulled the truck up to the entrance of the Plantation Lodge (guides are accommodated at these lodges in staff rooms) and everything was loaded up including a beautifully boxed breakfast to eat later on. It was artfully packaged and would be a welcome addition to an already wonderful day!

Originally, Emanuel wanted to leave at 7:30, but I asked if we could push our departure up to 6:00 knowing that the Golden Hour was rumoured to be absolutely stunning as the mist lifts from the crater floor and floods the caldera with the soft glow of morning. Right at 6:00, still dark, we started on the 25-minute drive to the Park Entrance.

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There, at the park entrance, Emanuel produced our documents and secured our permits (included in my package). There is a limited number of permits each day which was another huge reason I wanted to leave early. Yes, I know it was low season, but there was NO way I was going to risk my one chance to see this incredible UNESCO World Heritage site.

(Even trucks need a permit to pass on the road)



​

Ngorongoro is a Maasai onomatopoeic word which is the sound a cow bell makes. This is a multiple use land area and ONLY the Maasai tribal members are allowed to reside permanently on the crater’s rim areas. This is ground zero of their ancestral home and many Maasai travel through here and herd their animals nearby. There are a smattering of lodges on the rim as well, with special permits. However, no one is allowed to live inside the rim itself and, in fact, ALL people, aside from rangers, must be checked out past the park entrance by 6:00PM sharp or they are fined a hefty fee.

Just after dawn, we started our descent down the 2,000 feet of narrow, twisting road which was dirt until the last bit. From the lush dark green forest transitioning to the soft meadows, fully in bloom with the most amazing colors, we trudged along. The many trucks carrying cargo and supplies to the lodges and tent camps past the crater caused a definite “traffic jam” on this very narrow, sometimes VERY windy, road making our progress frustratingly slow at times. But these drivers are on point and know exactly how and when it’s safe to make a pass and step on the gas.

Enjoy a few moments of drive time as we made our way down from 7,900 ft….

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And a few of the stills I was able to grab. This was pretty tough given the terribly bumpy ride but they do give a sense of how densely foggy it was in places which was poetic in a way… the crater floor was all wrapped up in a misty shroud waiting to be opened on a birthday.

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Speaking of gifts… @buzzrelly, here is a special one for you:

(Sorry, truck was bouncy and photos from a moving car are already pretty tough!)​

I present the one of the only Baobab trees I saw this entire trip. It’s dangerous to go with expectations when traveling, but honestly I thought I’d see far more than a few. Emanuel explained that Baobabs just aren’t really endemic to this area and found more in southern Africa. So, I guess I was lucky to see even the couple I did. And yes, I was on the left side of the truck, so you are correct, the Baobabs are most definitely on the right side. Board wisely!

Once we reached the split in the road in which trucks peel off to head further west and safari-goers descend further, the skies began to lighten up and the landscape became less densely treed. But that wasn’t the end of our traffic jams. An occasional water buffalo, and even an elephant or two now and then, will take the road upwards causing some chaos. Today was no exception:

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As a point of order: The only species you won't find down in the crater due to the nature of the rim are giraffes. Their delicate legs can't (or haven't) made the journey. Every other Tanzanian animal seems to find a home in this 26,000 acre park.

Just as we broke through the layer of clouds, there is a little rest stop which we used. Maasai folk attend it and it is immaculately clean. There is a viewpoint near here as well, but Emanuel was in a rush to get to the crater floor as there was more than a full day’s worth of safari exploring to be had. I can say the views became breath-taking; the gift was opened, but interacting with my new treasure would last a lifetime. The timing was perfect to capture the mist lifting off the crater floor and the whole valley filled with delicious golden sunlight. Bliss! I was glad I asked to leave long before sunup!

(A little further along)



(Lots of "competition”!)





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Continued in the next post...

 

[Steppesister]

It took a full 2 hours to reach the crater’s bottom and literally within 5 minutes we had spotted our first animals, and quite likely one of the biggest highlights- a pair of gorgeous female lions sleeping just off the road. Like seriously, right off the road. Emanuel stopped the truck, and I eagerly began to take my first shots with the camera of the day.

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You probably think that is pretty dope all on its own, but wait there’s more! Emanuel suddenly says, “Wait! I think they are wanting to climb that tree there! They are acting like they are wanting to do that! Let’s wait and watch.”

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Sure enough, the pair started heading towards the tree and I could have cried for joy when they took turns deftly leaping up into the tree to find a good perch to take a short cat nap.

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Remember when I told you that I was pretty sad to have lost my stay at Lake Manyara? That park in particular is “Home of the World-Famous Tree-Climbing Lions”. It is such a niche thing that it is even stated on the park’s welcome signage. I had truly thought my only chance to see that amazing phenomenon was lost, but here we are, Someone gifting me a rare and wonderful opportunity to see something that is fairly uncommon in the animal world.

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We stayed for probably a good 30-40 minutes watching them settle into comfy poses, and then just as spontaneously as they had a hankering for going up, they decided to come back down. With a swift and powerful leap, they pounced down and took off, away from the truck, disappearing into the grass and bushes. Words really can’t describe just how truly amazing the whole interaction was.

Starting the truck back up and moving on, the next fair bit was spent finding oodles of super cool new birds. Sorry… just skip on by if this ain’t your thang. At least some of the photos are getting better!

(Superb Starling)




(Helmeted Guinea Fowl)



(Best guess is an Augur Buzzard, I've submitted to my bird group for help)




(Chirping Cisticola)



(Marabou Stork (R) and Yellow-billed stork (L))​

It was time for another potty stop and leg-stretching time. I tried to find this little rest stop on the map, but no luck. I think sometimes the roads move from place to place now and then in these wild parks, so keeping a map up to date might be tough. Once again, the facilities were in tip-top shape and surrounded by animals. These young wildebeest bucks were kickin’ it up with some play-fighting and the antelope (Thompson’s Gazelle to be exact) hung around for the show.

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Emanuel noticed a fresh pile of elephant dung and took time to give me an in-depth tutorial on all things elephant poo. Elephants will eat just about anything that grows. The guides are walking encyclopedias in Tanzanian flora and fauna, and he shared that, while they eat over 300 species of plants throughout the year, they digest very little of it. About 60% of what goes in, comes right back out in ginormous amounts. Which is all the better for many of the species of birds, insects, even baboons who will then take a second pass at it. Other mammals like fox will scavenge for bugs at dung sites but most fascinatingly, even the baby elephants will nibble on mommy’s poop to get the necessary enzymes for their own digestive systems. Crazy, no?!


I didn't take a picture of the poop, but now wish I had.


Marafiki, I’m going to leave off here. I took over 2,000 photos on this day alone and it’s so hard to choose the ones to showcase at times. There is SO much to share with you and I risk overwhelming you, Dear Readers! But just look at what I’ve already experienced well before I even have breakfast! If you EVER get the chance, run, don’t walk, to Ngorongoro Crater for a safari experience you’ll never forget! Next time, we’ll say hi to so many more animals, and one species that you may be running out of time to see at all.

Until next time….

 

[luvpoohandcompany]

What an amazing start to your day! Definitely the right call starting earlier and seeing the mist lift.
I cannot believe you saw the lionesses climb, and then descend, the tree. This is truly the stuff of dreams. I cannot wait to read the next installment.
You’re making me want to travel there

 

[buzzrelly]

Speaking of gifts… @buzzrelly, here is a special one for you:

Why, thank you I love it!!

And yes, I was on the left side of the truck, so you are correct, the Baobabs are most definitely on the right side. Board wisely!

Jeez, that trick even works in Africa?!

An occasional water buffalo, and even an elephant or two now and then, will take the road upwards causing some chaos. Today was no exception:


[][/]

Why, hello handsome

a pair of gorgeous female lions sleeping just off the road. Like seriously, right off the road.

Oh my goodness, that is amazing! What an unforgettable experience!

Emanuel noticed a fresh pile of elephant dung and took time to give me an in-depth tutorial on all things elephant poo. Elephants will eat just about anything that grows. The guides are walking encyclopedias in Tanzanian flora and fauna, and he shared that, while they eat over 300 species of plants throughout the year, they digest very little of it. About 60% of what goes in, comes right back out in ginormous amounts. Which is all the better for many of the species of birds, insects, even baboons. Other mammals like fox will scavenge for bugs at dung sites but most fascinatingly, even the baby elephants will nibble on mommy’s poop to get the necessary enzymes for their own digestive systems. Crazy, no?!

Maybe it's the nurse in me but I find that all super interesting!

 

[Wood Nymph]

Was this a personal tour? It looks amazing.

The “crater” rim is more than 2,000 feet high, towering over the caldera floor, and stands at an elevation of 7,900 ft ASL!! The rim above the crater floor is densely forested and often misty, especially in rainy season, such as this was. It’s no wonder that mornings can be quite chilly as one’s day gets started.

It can be chilly at that elevation!

The timing was perfect to capture the mist lifting off the crater floor and the whole valley filled with delicious golden sunlight. Bliss! I was glad I asked to leave long before sunup!

It's a good thing they honored your request to leave early! The crater valley is huge!

I love the leaping lions and the fact that you got to see them after all.

while they eat over 300 species of plants throughout the year, they digest very little of it. About 60% of what goes in, comes right back out in ginormous amounts.

Once again - something I didn't know.

 

[Steppesister]

What an amazing start to your day! Definitely the right call starting earlier and seeing the mist lift.
I cannot believe you saw the lionesses climb, and then descend, the tree. This is truly the stuff of dreams. I cannot wait to read the next installment.
You’re making me want to travel there

IT was incredible and it only gets better from here! Sooooo much more to go. By the time I'm done you'll be sick to death of African animals!

A safari is worth every hard-earned penny!

 

[Steppesister]

Why, thank you I love it!!

You'll like the next one (many, many chapters from now) even more.

Jeez, that trick even works in Africa?!

LOL!!! It does!

Why, hello handsome

It was soooooo amazing getting so close to the animals on this trip.

Oh my goodness, that is amazing! What an unforgettable experience!

I can't say this enough, the guides (all of them!) were so amazing at "reading nature". Freddie was on fleek with finding the birds. I'd have never seen 1/4 of the ones he spotted that day. The fact that he knew the lions were fixing to go climb the tree was incredible sense of animal behavior and if I'd been on my own, I 1000% probably would have taken a few photos and driven on. Crazy!

Maybe it's the nurse in me but I find that all super interesting!

Right?! I love the science behind things too!

 

[Steppesister]

Was this a personal tour? It looks amazing.

Almost all the game drives I was on were. They weren't guaranteed to be, but being low season, I was the only guest at some of these lodges, and the drivers are dedicated to the lodges you stay at for the most part. Had it been dry/busy season, I'd almost certainly have been with a full truck. Which would have seriously sucked. When you are alone, you get to dictate how long you stay at each sighting (sort of) and the driver will focus on what YOU want to see (in my case, lesser known mammals, small cats, birds, reptiles, etc....) instead of the guide having to cater to 6 others' hopes.

It can be chilly at that elevation!

For sure! And it was! But once we got to the crater floor, I shed most of those layers.

It's a good thing they honored your request to leave early! The crater valley is huge!

I love the leaping lions and the fact that you got to see them after all.

Yes, a full day will get you to most of the popular game sites and a full circuit around and back out.

Once again - something I didn't know.

I learned sooooo much on this safari. It's like taking all the tours Disney has to offer and putting them on high dose steroids. Every minute was packed with learning more about the ecosystem, plants, animals, behaviors, weather, culture.... Just amazing!

 

[disneyAndi14]

What a treat to see a baobab tree and the lions, just amazing! The lions climbing the tree wow!
I’m excited to see and hear more!

 

[Steppesister]

What a treat to see a baobab tree and the lions, just amazing! The lions climbing the tree wow!
I’m excited to see and hear more!

It was awesome to see (a real) one! Such a freak of nature and grand.

The lion encounter was a core moment for this trip!

 

[zanzibar138]

Nogorogoro Crater, which isn’t really a crater at all, but one of the world's only fully intact volcanic calderas, is home to an almost captive plethora of animal populations including some of the rarest animals on earth-both black and white rhinos.

Sounds amazing! Definitely going on the list for if I ever get back to Africa.

Originally, Emanuel wanted to leave at 7:30, but I asked if we could push our departure up to 6:00 knowing that the Golden Hour was rumoured to be absolutely stunning as the mist lifts from the crater floor and floods the caldera with the soft glow of morning.

7:30am seems really late. On our Africa trip, all our game drives left at 5:30am sharp! I guess it depends on the sunrise times.

Enjoy a few moments of drive time as we made our way down from 7,900 ft….

Interesting to see that the vehicles used in this area are all closed. We only saw open safari vehicles in Botswana.

This was pretty tough given the terribly bumpy ride but they do give a sense of how densely foggy it was in places which was poetic in a way

Beautiful!

An occasional water buffalo, and even an elephant or two now and then, will take the road upwards causing some chaos.

The type of chaos you don't mind right?

The only species you won't find down in the crater due to the nature of the rim are giraffes.

That's ok, plenty of other opportunities to see giraffes.

The timing was perfect to capture the mist lifting off the crater floor and the whole valley filled with delicious golden sunlight.

You got some epic photos!

It took a full 2 hours to reach the crater’s bottom and literally within 5 minutes we had spotted our first animals, and quite likely one of the biggest highlights- a pair of gorgeous female lions sleeping just off the road.

OMG how special! What an incredible experience for you.

At least some of the photos are getting better!

Once again, your photos are epic!

I didn't take a picture of the poop, but now wish I had.

I took over 2,000 photos on this day alone and it’s so hard to choose the ones to showcase at times.

I bet it is!

 

[Steppesister]

K is for: Keep on Driving!- Ngorongoro Crater, Pt. 3
May 7th, 2025​

After my lesson on all things ellie poop we continued on with our animal hunt. While still a problem in some areas, actual hunting and poaching has slowed WAY down. Most folks are realizing that the economy is much better served by safari tourism than elephant tusks. It took loads of education and activism to get it to where it is now, and there’s still work to be done, but populations are recovering, and some animals are now off the endangered list.

First, I wanted to back up to yesterday's lot because I found this photo that I'd taken on my phone from the descent road. I thought the clouds were super interesting and the view just gorgeous. It also shows the "paved" road and how it's all done in hewn rock pavers. The work that must've gone into that!

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Also, I wanted to address one of @Zanzibar's questions here... She mentioned that our truck was covered as opposed to the open ones that are very common on safaris. A word on trucks in general. There are several styles of trucks that I saw, some completely closed like this one, others with a pop-up top, and still others with a canvas fly that comes on and off for the weather conditions or preference of the guests. Ngorongoro is one place where covered, hardtop trucks are required due to the steep descent of the road and slick conditions. Andrew, the concierge explained to me on one of our phone calls, when I was sharing my concerns about having covered trucks during my trip, that there have been a few accidents and they are now required for the safety of everyone. Makes sense and it turned out just fine.

Let’s see what we can find next!


The next huge find, WAY off in the distance, was a pair of black rhinos. This was such a special sighting as they are extremely shy creatures, and you are most definitely not guaranteed to see any at all. Emanuel was super excited to see them, and I think we all enjoyed just watching them for a bit. These rhinos were rather boring in behavior choosing to just stand there, mostly in one place, for the while we were stopped. LOL! Sorry for the blurry photos, they too were quite far away from us.

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I had set out with high hopes that I’d be one of the luckiest of first guests to spot one of the White Rhinos that had just been introduced to the Crater on March 4th. 18 were released with 18 more to be released over the next year. This is a monumental project and, apparently, are being very closely watched with geotags and scads of scientists monitoring them. They had disappeared completely for the last 50 years from the crater and are now being given another chance to survive there. My research does not show Disney supporting this effort, so the Rhino Projects they are part of must be somewhere else.

Always on the lookout for for more bird species, Freddie (the better bird spotter) found us 2 more- The Northern Fiscal Shrike and the Brown Snake Eagle:

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A little further on a cute little hyena was taking a sunbath and a huge male warthog was rooting around in the grass for goodies.

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By now it was about 10:00 and we were all getting hungry for a bit of “boxed brekkie”. There are a couple of ways that meals are handled when in the bush: A boxed breakfast, such as we had on this morning, and a more formal set up from tiffins. Did you know that Tiffins restaurant in Animal Kingdom is named for the stackable, metal storage/serving containers that you’d find on a safari? Today, I’ll show you both!

Opening the box, eager to see what might be inside, I found a boiled egg, a ham and cheese sandwich, a roll, jam, a crepe, some yogurt, a juice box, and an ample serving of fruit. I ate a fair amount, and it was all delicious, but it was far too much to finish; I was far too excited to be really hungry anyway.

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Some animals take sunbaths; others take dust baths. A herd of zebra was standing in the road while one rolled around getting all freshened up.

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Others decided to have a gallop off to somewhere, whether it was spooked by another animal, or they had better things to do, off they went. Emanuel shared that they pump their heads to confuse predators and communicate to the others in the herd of predators nearby and Google says this: “Zebras bob or pump their heads as a form of social communication, often to initiate interactions like grooming or moving together. This head-bobbing behavior seems to be a way for zebras to invite others to participate in these activities, suggesting a level of social coordination and cognitive ability according to researchers at New Scientist. It's a way for them to signal their intentions and potentially coordinate their actions with other zebras.” It’s probably a mixture of both.

Volume off (very windy and annoying audio!)

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Obviously, a “Great Migration” doesn’t happen here in the crater, but there are wildebeest living their best life with plentiful, year-round grass without the hassle of a couple of treacherous croc-infested river crossings. But, their bodies are made for running long-distances, I learned, and they get plenty of exercise, even in this enclosed environment of the 100 square miles.

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While we were stopped watching the zebras another magnificent bird took flight from the grass: A Mountain Buzzard. Isn’t the pattern on his or her wings gorgeous?!

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It had become a routine that someone would see a bird, we'd stop and I'd shoot a few photos, then Freddie or Emanuel would pull out their phone and show me a photo of what they thought it was and play the song (sometimes the guides would also play the bird song audio on their phone to get the bird to look at us too), or they would whip out their bird book and look it up there.

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Other animal encounters were up close and personal. This wildebeest was hanging out with the zebra, as they often do, (more on this in another chapter) and got right up close to the truck as he passed by.

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The smaller prey animals like these Grant’s Gazelle co-mingle with the other grazers quite peacefully. Males play fight in practice for true rutting when the time comes.

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And now for your predictable bird session. I was on a mission to collect as many species as I possibly could and by the end of the day, you’ll be astonished!

A Rufous-naped Lark (and ELEPHANT POOP, see how much is "leftover"?)

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Rosy-throated Longclaw

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Kori Bustard

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Ostrich!

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Great Crowned Crane

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Not much time had passed before Emanuel excitedly announced that he spotted a very large male lion with a huge mane. He was nonchalantly sauntering across the meadow but was quite far away. I have a pretty long lens, but even the 400mm was just not long enough to do him justice. This is the best I could do- magnificent, no?

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More birds:

The Three-banded Plover (very common!)

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AND FLAMINGOS!!! Recall, I was sad that I didn’t see any at all at Small Momella Lake in Arusha National Park, but lo and behold loads of them, both Greater and Lesser were here in the lakes of the crater. The Greater have a mostly pink bill with a black tip and are usually bigger and the Lesser have an all-black bill. A small flock of Yellow-billed stork lounged on the shore

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More, much more, to come.... flamingos, and one of the cutest baby animals you'll ever see! I'll leave off here with just a few landscapes to show you just how beautiful this place is, especially in the rainy season when everything is in bloom.

​

 

[pkondz]

I was warned to dress in layers; you’ll soon see why.

Not what I'd expect from Africa!

Nogorogoro Crater, which isn’t really a crater at all, but one of the world's only fully intact volcanic calderas, is home to an almost captive plethora of animal populations including some of the rarest animals on earth-both black and white rhinos.

Cool!

everything was loaded up including a beautifully boxed breakfast to eat later on.

Nice of them.

Originally, Emanuel wanted to leave at 7:30, but I asked if we could push our departure up to 6:00 knowing that the Golden Hour was rumoured to be absolutely stunning as the mist lifts from the crater floor and floods the caldera with the soft glow of morning.

Sounds wonderful... unless you're the guide who has to get up an hour and a half earlier!

There is a limited number of permits each day which was another huge reason I wanted to leave early.

Would've been terrible to have gotten there only to be turned back!

Yes, I know it was low season, but there was NO way I was going to risk my one chance to see this incredible UNESCO World Heritage site.

Yeah... why take the chance?

Ngorogoro is a Maasai onomatopoeic word which is the sound a cow bell makes.

I like that.

ALL people, aside from rangers, must be checked out past the park entrance by 6:00PM sharp or they are fined a hefty fee.

Really! Early. But I'm sure they have their reasons. (for the time, not the everyone out part)

these drivers are on point and know exactly how and when it’s safe to make a pass and step on the gas.

Watched those videos... yikes! I wouldn't want to drive that!
Presume it's a one way road.

Looks other-worldly! I'd expect to see that in Avatar.

You look dressed for winter! Just how cold was it??

present the one of the only Baobab trees I saw this entire trip

I'll take your word for it... I don't see it

you are correct, the Baobabs are most definitely on the right side. Board wisely!

Whoa! Did you pet it?!?!?

As a point of order: The only species you won't find down in the crater due to the nature of the rim are giraffes. Their delicate legs can't (or haven't) made the journey.

Huh. I guess the road's too steep and/or too slippery?

I can say the views became breath-taking; the gift was opened, but interacting with my new treasure would last a lifetime.

Nicely said.

Holy smokes.

Like seriously, right off the road.

Word of advice... Don't get out of the car.

Wow! She really is right there!

What a cool shot!!
National Geographic's got nothing on you!

Someone gifting me a rare and wonderful opportunity to see something that is fairly uncommon in the animal world.

Words really can’t describe just how truly amazing the whole interaction was.

I bet! Wow!

(Superb Starling)

Certainly is superb.

Bathroom with a view.
I gnu you'd see some of those critters.

Nice shot!

Emanuel noticed a fresh pile of elephant dung and took time to give me an in-depth tutorial on all things elephant poo.

No shi... uh... No kidding!

The guides are walking encyclopedias in Tanzanian flora and fauna

Super handy. I'm betting you pointed and said "What's that" a whole bunch and got tons of info.

even the baby elephants will nibble on mommy’s poop to get the necessary enzymes for their own digestive systems. Crazy, no?!

All interesting, but this especially so.

didn't take a picture of the poop, but now wish I had.

Well, cra... um... darn.

I took over 2,000 photos on this day alone

But just look at what I’ve already experienced well before I even have breakfast!

Wait... this was all before breakfast?!?!?

 

[Steppesister]

Sounds amazing! Definitely going on the list for if I ever get back to Africa.

I hope you do!

7:30am seems really late. On our Africa trip, all our game drives left at 5:30am sharp! I guess it depends on the sunrise times.

Yeah, I kinda think he was trying to get out of an early morning, and I'm glad I advocated for myself on this one.

Interesting to see that the vehicles used in this area are all closed. We only saw open safari vehicles in Botswana.

See comments in next chapter....

The type of chaos you don't mind right?

Not even a little bit!

That's ok, plenty of other opportunities to see giraffes.

OH definitely! Things just get better and better from here!

Once again, your photos are epic!

Thanks! I was pretty happy with a few!

 

[Steppesister]

Not what I'd expect from Africa!

Indeed. Most probably think hot, dry, dusty... and that is true for a lot, but folks forget, Africa is big. Like really big with a giant band on the middle with a tropical climate and landscape. Think Congo and Rwanda. (And Northern Tanzania)

Sounds wonderful... unless you're the guide who has to get up an hour and a half earlier!

Yeah, but the best photos are just after dawn and they know that.

Would've been terrible to have gotten there only to be turned back!

Exactly!

Yeah... why take the chance?

It wasn't gonna be me!

Really! Early. But I'm sure they have their reasons. (for the time, not the everyone out part)

Probably a bunch of reasons. Maybe they don't wanna go out on a rescue mission for lost trucks, or broken down trucks in the dark? Maybe people thought they could just camp out there? Just to keep track of and count comers and go-ers?

Watched those videos... yikes! I wouldn't want to drive that!
Presume it's a one way road.

I do not think so no. I'll get to that when we drive out.

Looks other-worldly! I'd expect to see that in Avatar.

It was so beautiful in a surreal way.

You look dressed for winter! Just how cold was it??

I think it was in the high 50's/low 60's in the early AM.

Whoa! Did you pet it?!?!?

No way! These things are super unpredictable and can be very cranky. You are NOT allowed to touch or attempt to touch the animals.

Huh. I guess the road's too steep and/or too slippery?

Yes, too much of both.

Word of advice... Don't get out of the car.

No, and I'll get to that too in future chapters.

Wow! She really is right there!

It was hard to get photos at eye level with the animals at times. Just the nature of how safaris work. But this one was one of those times the perspective did work out.

What a cool shot!!
National Geographic's got nothing on you!

Pshaw! A lot of photography is luck and patience. (Some is equipment and I'm in the market for new gear now. )

Certainly is superb.

They ended up being a hugely common bird there and they are just everywhere. It didn't matter, I still think they are beautiful.

Bathroom with a view.
I gnu you'd see some of those critters.

<snork>

No shi... uh... No kidding!

Super handy. I'm betting you pointed and said "What's that" a whole bunch and got tons of info.

At every turn. It was exhilarating to learn so much. I'd learned some on the Disney safaris too, but this was like lightyears more information. The guides were constantly teaching and explaining.

Well, cra... um... darn.

You're on a roll. Like a dung beetle.

Wait... this was all before breakfast?!?!?

Oh, I'm just getting started. You're going to be so sick of animals by the time I'm done.