On moving days we get up early ~ it’s a long day but always an adventure. After breakfast, which Cam and Jeanne seemed to thoroughly enjoy, we left Oliver's Camp and Tarangire National Park and headed for the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
One last not so clear look at our leopard from the night before. Unfortunately, we had to keep moving, as is often the case on a travel day. We may have seen some action if we had another day here, but...
The Maribou Storks were nice enough to assemble to see us off.
Another incredible experience. We came upon a herd of maybe 500 elephants, who were leaving the woodlands and heading towards the Tarangire River for a drink.
Unfortunately a photo can't describe the awe in seeing that many elephants in one place! 360 degrees of elephants!
A leucistic animal is not an albino, but one who is mostly without color. This leucistic Olive Baboon has brown eyes.
Aren't these guys are a little young for kissing and holding hands?
Howard's Hat! Indelibly burned into my vision as I rode behind him. He says it actually kept him quite cool. Notice the pet fly.
Howard & Mary, Bev & Mike, re-enacting a photo we took in 1995 on the patio of the Tarangire Lodge. We had to stop at the Lodge on the way out (this year) to get Paul's clutch fixed. Luckily the garage fixed it in about as much time as it took us to have cokes and beers, and to say hi to Annette, the owner.
More gas ~ and chili chips.
The Gate at the entrance to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
"Don't even think about it says Sharon !!. I know you guys will try to get into our car to steal cookies and M&M's, but Jo will be on guard and none of you will get by him... Just ask him."
"Not you, you little devil."
"Or you, you angel."
So, here's Jo, confidently guarding the car, except for one little detail. The passenger window was open. Sorry I don't have a photo of what happened next, but soon, both the little devil and the angel were inside the car, fighting each other over the M&M's, challenging and growling at Jo, thrashing thru the car, total mayhem ~ until Jo was able to grab a water bottle and thrash back at them. Lots of yelling and growling from both sides! A valiant effort to protect those M&M's (and himself!) but they got the loot and ran off. Jo was luckily unscathed.
Angel, my ass!!!
So it's up the rift valley wall to the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater, which is actually a caldera, or collapsed volcano.
It's a blast, but can get a little hairy for our fearless drivers.
How many more group photos can I make them stand for? (They'll be happy the did)
View from the lookout - Ngorongoro Crater.
Lemala Tented Camp has been a regular stop on our trips. Situated on the Crater Rim (in the upper right in the photo above) on the road down to the Crater floor. It's expensive but offers the best route down into the crater (not till tomorrow morning) for early morning viewing.
A look inside the comfortable, spacious en-suite bathrooms inside the tent.
The tents are equipped with heaters and the beds with hot water bottles. It gets cold, even near the Equator, at 8,000 feet above sea level.
Look now, because tomorrow we are up and out before daylight. But not before another round of cocktails by the fire and dinner by candle light.
