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.

Serengeti

Topi

Termite Mound

Red Billed Hornbill

Elephant at Distance

Giraffe

Serengeti Scenery

Masai Giraffe

Beetle

Dung Beetle

Weaver Bird

Rolling Zebra

Watering Hole

Serengeti

Black Winged Stilt

Ostrich Crossing

Zebra Foal

Serengeti Plain

White Headed Buffalo Weaver

Superb Starling

Wallowing Hippo

Hornbill, Sparrows and Starlings

Serengeti Campsite

Superb Starling

Thompson’s Gazelle

Topi

Masai Giraffes Feeding

Spectacular Birds in flight

Marabou Storks

By the Road

Giraffe in Acacia

Sleeping Lions

Grant’s Gazelle and Zebra

Purple Tree

On the Road

Black Chested Snake Eagle

Ostrich

Spectacular bird in flight

Zebra and Wildebeest

Weaver Birds in Tree

Lion Family

Gazelle

Lying Zebra

Sparrows and Starlings

Roadside View

Rock Mound

Weaver Bird

Dust

Lazing Hyena

Mound

Hyena

Egyptian Geese

Our accommodation

Hyena

Black Faced Monkey with Babe

Lion on Top

Red Billed Hornbill

Elephant

Lion Male

Watching Lions

Thompson’s Gazelle

Lion and Lioness

Lion and Lioness

Zebra Pair

Thompson’s Gazelle

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.

Yellow Billed Stork

Mirage

Camels in Ngorogoro!

Golden Backed Jackel

These flowers gave off the most amazing perfume

Crater View

Hyena

Buffalo

Masai

The Long and Winding Road

Fighting Wildebeest

Rhino

Cacti

Warthog close

Crater Floor

Wildebeest

Lions in the long grass

Lion Asleep

Zebra and Topi

Campfire

By the fire

Sheep (tails down)

Steep Escarpment

Hyena and Wildebeest

Yellow Billed Stork and Wildebeest

Crater View

Beasts Below

Lions

Dust Devil

Black Faced Monkey

Flamingo

Lion at Rest

The start of the ascent

Crested Cranes

Oxpecker

Crater Road

Winding Ascent

Wildebeest

Mt Ngorogoro

Descending

Hippos

Distant Rhino

Kori Bustard displaying

Skull

Our Truck

Sheep

Fruits

View Below

Straight Road

Warthog in pool

Crater with Wildebeest

Thompson;s Gazelle

Ngorogoro approaches

Boma

Crater Rim

Black Crowned Crane and Wildebeest

Storks

Stork in flight

Mt Ngorogoro

Descending

Masai Boma (settlement)

Masai Welcome

Crater from the top

Cattle

Zebra and Wildebeest on hill

Wildebeest

Giraffe on the endless plain

Hippos, Wildebeest and Zebra

Flowers

Steep Rim

Ngorogoro Camp

Black Crowned Crane

Zebra and Impala

Zebra close

Lions

Black Backed Jackel

Kori Bustard

Road Up

Yellow Fever Trees – misnamed by early European settlers

Crater Scenery

View Below

Ngorogoro Camp

Cook and Guide

Monkeys

African Hoopoe

Mirage of Mt Ngorogoro

Buffalo with Oxpeckers

Climbing up

Pelican

Winding Road

Kori Bustard

Thompsons Gazelle

Masai on the plain