Monday, January 15, 2024
Gayle had stomach issues at night but was able to travel by morning, Pete was so relieved as this day in particular promised to be spectacular.
The Ngorongoro Crater is the Earth’s largest unbroken and unflooded caldera. The year around grazing and fresh water available provides a permanent home for approximately 23,000 large animals. A veritable ‘Garden of Eden’, the caldera is reputed to contain the highest density of carnivores in the world! This is one of the few places in East Africa where one has an opportunity to observe the rare Black Rhinos in their natural environment.
We drove down into the Ngorongoro crater. Rim was at 7,500 ft, floor was at 5,900 ft. We immediately encountered animals and were around animals, sometimes many, the entire time. Lots of big animals, including 9 black rhinos, a species not always seen. Buffalo, zebras, gazelles, baboons, wildebeests, hyenas, lions, elands, warthogs, secretary birds, Kori bustards, ostriches, marabou storks, and a few hippos. We ate lunch at a picnic ground where black kites swooped around and a marabou stork walked around hunting for food. Restrooms are nice and usually cleaned constantly by the attendant.
The crater area is mostly flat with very few if any trees. Vegetation is grass or low shrubs. Some trees and forested areas are found in places. But mostly you can see for a very long way and can see animals, sometimes in large groups in most directions. They ignore the many safari vehicles, sometimes coming very close. We had 16 trucks parked at one of the 3 rhino stops we made but generally the vehicles are spread out. I wondered if it would feel ‘fake’ due to all the Land Cruisers and the animals’ lack of fear, but I didn’t get that impression. In fact, it felt very wild.
Totally amazing day. Our necks hurt from looking around so much.
Nice dinner and as early as possible bedtime, both slept well.
