Safari Day 3 at Ngorongoro Crater by Genna Walsh

Habari Za Asubuhi!

Genna and Zebra

I woke up to the subtle sounds of Fajr (Muslim prayer before dawn) at the Tloma Logde Ngorongoro at 5am for hot breakfast and omelette bar prepared by the chef, sandwich lunch box making and departure at 6:15a sharp. The two trucks loaded up to head to the entrance of Crater National Park Ngorongoro. We were greeted at the rim by a troop of baboons hanging in the trees. Our guides from E.Safari Organizer instructed us to close all windows in the trucks because it’s common for the baboons to search the safari trucks for food. After a quick ‘happy room’ stop (a restroom with toilets and not a squattie), we entered the park. The top of the crater was chilly for Tanzanian weather. We headed down to the floor of the crater for the next three hours. 

Best guides ever, Ernest and Eki

Ernest truck crew

Austin spotting hippos

The first sighting was a pack of lioness eating fresh kill. The crater was inhabited with zebras, hippos, rhinos, wildebeest, water buffalo, elephants, warthogs, jackals, ostriches, flamingos and many birds! A few fun facts; only hippos can wade in the water because the lake has a high alkaline content, elephants loose their teeth a couple of times throughout their lifetime, the crater is home to retired elephants because the grass is softer and elder male elephants can be ostracized from the herd by females because they no longer contribute and are not desired by the females. On the way out of the crater, we stopped for a group photo at the top of the rim and headed back to our home away from home at the Outpost lodge. Until next time! TIA

Group photo

Ostracized male elephant