Ngorongoro Crater

Ngorongoro Crater

The guide service drove us from Keys Hotel in Moshi to Arusha where we were to join our guides who then drove us to Ngorongoro Crater.

On our way to Arusha we stopped at a banana plantation

Downtown Arusha where we joined our guide

On our way to the crater our truck broke down. We were not happy campers because we lost a day.

Meanwhile, I hiked around the savanna until they could bring us another truck. I saw a giraffe in the distance but could not focus in with my cheap camera.

As for my compadres, they made friends with some of the locals.

We finally made our destination, Ngorongoro Wildlife Lodge.

Overlooking crater from the lodge.

The following day before heading into the crater for the actual safari, our guide took us to visit an actual Maasai village. The fence is high to keep the cattle in and the lions out.

Maasai tribe

A Maasai dance

Maasai children

Mud homes where the Maasai people live

The chief and his (main) wife invited us into their home. It was an experience I'll never forget. How they live in such tight quarters, I do not know. As for his wives, the chief has 10. Not uncommon for a chief in his position.

My friend "Walter" and I. They actually take English names as the British settled many parts of Africa many years ago.

Now we are entering the crater. Our first encounter were some vicious baboons.

Boars

Gazelles

Wildebeasts

Zebras

African buffalo (apparently different than the water buffalo)

Hyenas

Jackyls (similar to the coyote)

Antelopes (not like the antelope we're used to)

We had lunch at a nearby pond and took a picture of our group and our guide, Alex.

Hippos

Rhino and rhino with zebras

Lions. Notice the lions face on left. He had a kill earlier that morning (night of course) and still had blood on his mane that was beginning to dry. This is how close he got to our truck. As for the lioness on the right her belly is full indicating that she ate well (probably the same kill).