Ngorongoro Crater
First listed as a preserve in 1921, 25,000 animals make it their home, including 62 (as of 2001) Lions who suffer inbreeding issues due to the crater’s isolation. Many campsites and hotels dot the rim of the crater, given spectacular views of the inside.
Experience
We reached the Ngorongoro Crater before lunchtime, winding our way down the switchback roads that lead from the Caldera to the basin. Trees line the road with flashes of plains as you catch glimpses into the crater. One of our main focuses as passengers was looking out for the final animal of the Big Five, the Rhino. And very quickly one was spotted, far in the distance. Even with my zoom and huge sensor, the Rhino’s remained small grey dots.
We stopped for lunch at the water’s edge, and made use of the little pop-up shop selling treats and coffee. Whilst expensive, 14,500 Shillings for a latte and an ice cream, it was still a nice indulgence.
After lunch, we headed back out into the park, seeing a pride of lions caught in the sudden torrential rain, as well as a litany of other wildlife.
On our way out of the Crater, we drove past a family of Olive Baboons sitting in the road.
Caldera Campsite
Two Cory Bastards hung around the area through dinner, surprisingly intimidating in their size. After dinner, we found the campsite inundated by Buffalo, several tent awnings having been brought down by their wandering.
Several people came face to face with them leaving the bathroom or were woken in the night by the beasts scratching themselves on the tent. One guest even encountered an Elephant in the middle of the night!
Wildlife
Animals
Black Rhino
Seen only at a great distance, with a lot of heat haze, the distant rinoes still count as seeing the Big Five.
Buffallo
Eland
Elephant
Grant’s Gazelle
Hippo
Jackal
Lion
Olive Baboon
Thompson’s Gazelle
Warthog
Wildebeast
Zebra
Birds
Balafecht Weaver
Black Kite
Buzzard
A juvenile buzzard in the rain.
Cory Bastard
The only bird in the crater that looks like an elderly New York divorcee.
Flamingo
Lappet Faced Vulture
Marabou Stork
Ostrich
Sacre Ibis
Location
Hominids of different types have occupied the Nogorongoro Crater for over three million years. The conservation area spans about 810,000 hectares of land and is home to a startling variety of species.