Ngorongoro is essentially a unique crater known as a Caldera. A Caldera is the aftereffect of a volcanic collapse, an implosion rather than explosion and was formed some two million years ago. Ecologically it covers an area of 8,300 square kilometers with varied terrain and altitudes. These variations result in diverse and distinct habitats from grassy plains to mountain forest. The Crater itself measures an average of 18 Kilometers in diameter and approximately 700 meter vertical drop. Apart from being home to 25,000 large animals, it forms part of what is known as the Serengeti-Ngorongoro-Maasai Mara ecosystem. This ecosystem allows for the free movement of 1.5 million animals in their continuous search for green pastures known as the migration.
The crater is one of the prime areas to observe the endangered Black Rhino and Black Manned Lions. We saw a few lions up-close, and boy! it was sensational!
Entrance to Ngorongoro, view of and around the crater and a drive in the clouds into the crater:
View of the crater from our room and the restaurant, a bird rescued in front of our lodge (I almost accidentally stepped on her; she was flat on her back, looking rather dead, but still breathing)
Game -viewing around the crater:
Buffalo skull found around Ngoitokitok springs:
2 comments:
Looks like you had a great trip!
I love animals, but I get overly paranoid about the safety in Africa. I visited South Africa about 2 years ago and that was really the 'mildest' part of the continent I can think of. Even then, the guide was pretty uptight about the safety there.
I would really love to visit the Serengeti and Masai Mara!
Yeah..an awesome trip! :D
safety IS really a bummer there...you can't believe how disappointed we were not to have the freedom to walk around as we please at night. But since it's a place of tourist trap,i guess it is a tad safer than being outside of that. Go go...spemd more time at the Serengeti, you won't be disappointed! I'd like to make to SA one of these days too!
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