Friday 2nd February

NGORONGORO CRATER

CRATER SCENE WITH THE 600m WALLS IN THE BACKGROUND

Our first Tanzanian breakfast. The freshpineapple was excellent. We didn’t take theeggs.

We got into the Landrover at 08:30 for thetrip down into the crater. Can’t rememberthe drivers name. Long drive around theSeneto descent. Masai out in force alongroad. “Masai wave” girls undulate neckbeads as we pass. Judith took a picture ofyoung Masai boys who had beencircumcised.

“You pay!” they knew some English.

“Only 100 each!” driver snaps.

After about 15km we came to Senatodescent road. The main Ngorongoro toSengeti road had been bad enough. This isworse but steep as well. We are in a snakeof about 15 landrovers making their wayinto the crater.

Once on the floor of the crater we restbriefly at the Senato Springs. We areable to get out and stretch our legs.Everybody takes a few pictures. Usingbinoculars we can see elephants in thedistance. The setting is spectacular.This is what I came for.

The driver rolls back the roof and putsup the bench seat , then we were off forour first game view. Sun hot.

FEVER TREES AND ELEPHANT IN CRATER

Burnt the back of my hands ears andtemples. No sun shade in thelandrover. Good sightings of Rhino,3 during day.

We took our picnic lunch at theNgoitokitok springs in the crater.African kites swoop down to stealfood. So we take our lunch in theLandrover! Find the toilet is invadedby wasps. Ronnie uses the bushesmuch

Our first Hippo at Mandusi Swamp Ngorongoro Crater

much to the amusement of a bus full ofAmerican ladies. Overheard Jean talkingto the driver“Do you like the animals?”“No I like the money they bring”, at leasthe was honest.After lunch we headed back towards theMandusi swamp to see the hippos.Excellent view over the pool from a slightrise. Still can’t get an open mouth - oneday!We are introduced to Colin Bastard.It turns out what the driver said was KoriBustard but Colin Bastard stayed withus for the rest of the trip!The afternoon was hot and peaceful.Ron, Judith and I lounged in the back ofthe landrover and chatted. Then whenwe stopped we would get up to watch theanimals , then back

down and chat. Watch. Chat. It washot, it felt good to be alive, bumpingaround in the back of the landroverwatching game in the Ngorongorocrater. Sizewell B and ISCO worrieswere washed away. I soaked up theatmosphere. I locked the memory ofthat afternoon away for futurereference.As we headed back across the crater wefound two lion, 1 male and 1 female on

the dried up Gorigor swamp. She made afuss of him but he couldn’t be bothered.We found a couple more elephant in theLerai forest. Shortly afterwards we wereout of the landrover to stretch our legs.Hope the elephant knew we were friendly.This is the campsite we had seen the nightbefore. The driver must “drink water”.

LAKE MAKAT NGORONGORO CRATER

NGORONGORO RHINO

No peoples wanted to use the toilet.The ascent is made via the road on theOldeani Mountain side.

I recount to the “crew” how I hadlistened to “North of the Limpopo” onthe radio on the way home fromLittlebrook and had set my heart onvisiting Ngorongoro. My dream hasbeen fulfilled. The highlight must havebeen the Rhino.

Back at the lodge we tip the driver andsay thank you. I bought and wrotesome postcards. “Mating in thecrater” bad taste calendar in the shop.

Drink some beer, eat some dinner andgo to bed. Serengeti tomorrow.