On November 4, we got up early again for a morning safari of the Ngorongoro Crater (which covers 260 square kilometers or 100 square miles) before heading back to Arusha. I really enjoyed the safaris in both the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater - the photo opportunities were just amazing! Not as many warthogs in the crater but plenty of lions. The landscape was just as beautiful.
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| Good morning |
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| View of the crater as we descend |
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| And what animal do we first see? It's a little hard to tell but it's a warthog! |
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| This still doesn't quite capture the endless land in front of us |
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| Paul is impressed |
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| Getting ready to find more animals! |
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| Blue wildebeest |
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| Lots of wildebeest |
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| Pretty much as far as the eye can see... |
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| We spotted a pride of lions (and a jackal) enjoying some morning buffalo |
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| The lions allow the jackal to take a few bites here and there but don't ever allow the hyenas to get close |
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| But the hyenas are always lurking about |
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| Safari Paul searching for more animals |
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| Kori Bustard |
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| You can get a sense of the vastness of the crater with the kori bustard in the photo |
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| Fastest land bird - can go as fast as 70km/hr (43mph) - I want to ride one... |
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| His eye looks scary |
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| Lone ostrich looking both ways before crossing the road |
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| Hippos grazing in the distance |
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| Black-backed jackal |
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| Looks like a harmless puppy... |
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| Lion on the prowl |
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| Mr. Lion was not happy with one of his females |
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| Still on the prowl |
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| We were hoping she was either going to mate with the male or kill something - neither happened |
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| I think she heard something in the bushes |
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| This is what it basically looks like when one vehicle spots an animal |
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| Buffalo |
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| Blue wildebeest |
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| This lone wildebeest should really be careful |
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| There were tons of them |
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| Buffalo |
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| Pelicans, hippos, impalas, and cranes |
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| Just enjoying the sun |
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| Wildebeest! |
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| They all just follow each other - the line of them from this distance make them look like ants! |
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| Here's a close up of the line of wildebeest where you can see the flamingoes in the background too |
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| Kicking up dust! |
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| We spotted more lions walking towards us |
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| This is how close one of them got! |
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| Another pair walking towards us |
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| It was hot so they were walking quite slow |
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| The female spotted some poop to sniff |
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| And of course the first thing she does is roll around in it - wouldn't you? |
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| "Ugh, not again, she always embarrasses me like this!" |
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| That's how close we were! |
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| Walking towards us... |
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| So amazing |
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| Buffalo skull |
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| I was worried about this lone wildebeest |
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| Paul is showcasing the wildebeest to his left |
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| Zebra and two grey-crowned cranes |
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| Zebras and wildebeest hanging out |
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| Animals everywhere! |
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| Hello hippo |
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| He popped his head up long enough for me to snap a shot with his eyes and nose above the water |
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| That was about the most activity I got out of this one |
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| Bye Ngorongoro Crater...last shot of the zebras as we drive away |
