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.

Zebra Pair

Lion Male

Serengeti Campsite

Red Billed Hornbill

Serengeti

Hyena

Wallowing Hippo

Elephant at Distance

Roadside View

Thompson’s Gazelle

Serengeti Plain

Ostrich Crossing

Mound

Sleeping Lions

Lion and Lioness

Our accommodation

Giraffe

Black Faced Monkey with Babe

Topi

Spectacular Birds in flight

Red Billed Hornbill

Gazelle

Black Chested Snake Eagle

Egyptian Geese

Masai Giraffe

Lazing Hyena

Dust

Superb Starling

Beetle

Serengeti Scenery

Lion Family

Spectacular bird in flight

Termite Mound

Thompson’s Gazelle

Superb Starling

Weaver Bird

Rolling Zebra

Ostrich

Zebra Foal

Lying Zebra

Hyena

Thompson’s Gazelle

Rock Mound

On the Road

Zebra and Wildebeest

Weaver Birds in Tree

Sparrows and Starlings

Marabou Storks

Serengeti

Elephant

Topi

Black Winged Stilt

White Headed Buffalo Weaver

By the Road

Lion on Top

Giraffe in Acacia

Watering Hole

Masai Giraffes Feeding

Watching Lions

Weaver Bird

Grant’s Gazelle and Zebra

Hornbill, Sparrows and Starlings

Dung Beetle

Lion and Lioness

Purple Tree

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.

Lions

Crater View

Crested Cranes

Dust Devil

Steep Rim

Cook and Guide

Winding Road

Steep Escarpment

Lions

Golden Backed Jackel

Warthog close

Hippos

Masai on the plain

Camels in Ngorogoro!

Hyena and Wildebeest

Crater from the top

African Hoopoe

Flowers

Storks

Boma

Mirage

Crater View

Winding Ascent

By the fire

Buffalo

Crater Road

Zebra close

Black Backed Jackel

Monkeys

The start of the ascent

These flowers gave off the most amazing perfume

Crater Rim

Climbing up

Fruits

Hippos, Wildebeest and Zebra

Rhino

Wildebeest

Zebra and Impala

Road Up

Thompson;s Gazelle

Fighting Wildebeest

Giraffe on the endless plain

Yellow Billed Stork

Oxpecker

Black Faced Monkey

Descending

Crater Floor

Hyena

Descending

Stork in flight

Ngorogoro Camp

Wildebeest

Crater Scenery

Campfire

Cattle

View Below

Flamingo

Kori Bustard

The Long and Winding Road

Crater with Wildebeest

Lions in the long grass

Masai

Straight Road

Sheep (tails down)

Yellow Billed Stork and Wildebeest

Mt Ngorogoro

Distant Rhino

Lion at Rest

Kori Bustard

Masai Boma (settlement)

Our Truck

Zebra and Wildebeest on hill

Ngorogoro approaches

Wildebeest

Pelican

Warthog in pool

Ngorogoro Camp

Beasts Below

Black Crowned Crane

View Below

Kori Bustard displaying

Skull

Yellow Fever Trees – misnamed by early European settlers

Mt Ngorogoro

Sheep

Cacti

Black Crowned Crane and Wildebeest

Thompsons Gazelle

Lion Asleep

Masai Welcome

Zebra and Topi

Mirage of Mt Ngorogoro

Buffalo with Oxpeckers