Safari – Day 2 : Serengeti to Ngorogoro (Now with Pictures)

After an early night – just after 8pm! It was up early to make the most of the day. Our morning was spent in Serengeti. No big new animals today although we were within a few metres of a hiding Cheetah at one point – unfortunately no sign. Plenty of birdlife and good sightings of Lions, Giraffe, Zebras, Buffalo, Wildebeest, Hippos, Warthogs, Elephants, Baboons, Monkeys,Ostriches and Hyenas to add to yesterday’s encounters. Still no Leopard though! On the new front Thompson’s Gazelle and Grant’s Gazelle.

By the Road

Topi

Serengeti

Watering Hole

Grant’s Gazelle and Zebra

Gazelle

Ostrich Crossing

Rock Mound

Serengeti

Zebra and Wildebeest

Lying Zebra

Serengeti Plain

Weaver Birds in Tree

Black Chested Snake Eagle

Weaver Bird

Beetle

Ostrich

Spectacular bird in flight

Zebra Pair

Thompson’s Gazelle

Red Billed Hornbill

Elephant

Our accommodation

Topi

Dust

Serengeti Scenery

Superb Starling

Hornbill, Sparrows and Starlings

Lion on Top

Weaver Bird

On the Road

Serengeti Campsite

Mound

Spectacular Birds in flight

Wallowing Hippo

Red Billed Hornbill

Purple Tree

Thompson’s Gazelle

Lazing Hyena

Marabou Storks

Masai Giraffe

Hyena

Zebra Foal

Egyptian Geese

Watching Lions

Lion Male

Sleeping Lions

Thompson’s Gazelle

Black Winged Stilt

Superb Starling

White Headed Buffalo Weaver

Termite Mound

Giraffe in Acacia

Masai Giraffes Feeding

Lion Family

Rolling Zebra

Lion and Lioness

Giraffe

Black Faced Monkey with Babe

Sparrows and Starlings

Lion and Lioness

Roadside View

Elephant at Distance

Dung Beetle

Hyena

The afternoon took us over into Ngorogoro Crater which gave us a spectacular climb (in which we saw Maasai Villages and even some Camels!) and a dramatic descent. Once inside we saw much of the same, though generally much closer quarters . On the new front we saw a Jackal, Crested Cranes, Storks, Hartebeest, Bustards, Flamingos and Pelicans. We were on the search for Rhino. It is true to say we saw two. It’s also true to say that on full magnification they were tiny. None of this took away from the spectacular landscape,
We are now back at our campsite for the night. One more day in the Serengeti tomorrow then home tomorrow night.
We remain in search of Cheetahs and Leopards. hoping.

Sheep (tails down)

Lion Asleep

Our Truck

Wildebeest

Cattle

African Hoopoe

View Below

Black Crowned Crane

Crater Scenery

Yellow Fever Trees – misnamed by early European settlers

Monkeys

Boma

Golden Backed Jackel

Lions

Zebra close

Steep Escarpment

Dust Devil

Lions in the long grass

Zebra and Wildebeest on hill

Fighting Wildebeest

Black Crowned Crane and Wildebeest

The Long and Winding Road

Buffalo with Oxpeckers

Kori Bustard displaying

Mt Ngorogoro

Black Backed Jackel

Cacti

Black Faced Monkey

Zebra and Impala

Flowers

Masai Boma (settlement)

Mirage

Pelican

Giraffe on the endless plain

Camels in Ngorogoro!

Warthog in pool

Thompson;s Gazelle

Yellow Billed Stork and Wildebeest

Cook and Guide

Descending

Crater Road

The start of the ascent

Mt Ngorogoro

Crater Rim

Lions

Mirage of Mt Ngorogoro

Hippos

Masai on the plain

Zebra and Topi

Wildebeest

Hyena

Beasts Below

Campfire

Sheep

Warthog close

Masai Welcome

Crater View

Ngorogoro approaches

Hippos, Wildebeest and Zebra

Kori Bustard

Crested Cranes

Skull

Descending

Straight Road

Oxpecker

Buffalo

These flowers gave off the most amazing perfume

Flamingo

Yellow Billed Stork

Road Up

Crater View

Rhino

Fruits

Masai

Hyena and Wildebeest

Distant Rhino

Storks

Kori Bustard

Crater from the top

Stork in flight

Climbing up

Steep Rim

By the fire

Winding Road

Ngorogoro Camp

Crater Floor

Thompsons Gazelle

Lion at Rest

Winding Ascent

Crater with Wildebeest

Ngorogoro Camp

View Below

Wildebeest