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.

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!

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

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.