Tanzania 2017 (part IV): Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania:

Lioness on the plains of the Ngorongoro Crater

Fortunately, I left my stomach problems behind when leaving Lake Eyasi and could enjoy the following day in the Ngorongoro Crater to the fullest!

The Ngorongoro Crater is a large volcanic caldera within the vast Ngorongoro Conservation Area. This protected region can be used by Maasai pastoralists in a limited extent, but also offers shelter to thousands of wild animals. The view from the crater rim onto the plains of the caldera 610 m below is truly fantastic! Driving through the nature reserve can be described only as beautiful – and offers the rare chance of spotting the Black Rhinoceros, which is otherwise extinct in northern Tanzania. But even though much more abundant in numbers, I also really enjoyed observing the slender Grant’s and Thomson’s Gazelles.

entrance to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area

on the way to the Ngorongoro Crater

view into the Ngorongoro Crater

buffaloes in the crater

African Buffalo

graves of Michael and Bernhard Grzimek

Maasai settlements outside the crater

groups of wildebeests and zebras among domestic cattle

Common Elands

Augur Buzzard

entering Ngorongoro Crater

Common Eland

Rufous Sparrow

Rufous-tailed Weaver

Grant’s Gazelle

Common Fiscal Shrike

grazing Common Warthog

Blue Wildebeests

Blue Wildebeest

Blue Wildebeests

on safari in Ngorongoro Crater

dust devil

Grant Zebras and Blue Wildebeests

Grant Zebra

Common Ostrich

Kori Bustard

Thomson’s Gazelle

Red-capped Lark

Yellow Wagtail

White Stork

Thomson’s Gazelles

elephants in the vast Ngorongoro Crater

elephants and dust devil

African Elephants

Augur Buzzard

Grey Crowned Crane

Spur-winged Goose

Common Ostrich

lazy lion pride

young lions

young lion

facepalm

young lion

lion

wildlife in the crater

Egyptian Goose

Helmeted Guineafowl

Blue Wildebeests

Blue Wildebeest

Grant Zebras

Black-winged Lapwing with young

Black-winged Lapwing

Crowned Lapwing

lazy hippos

Sacred Ibises

Long-toed Lapwing among Blacksmith Lapwings

Blacksmith Lapwing

Abdim’s Stork

Grant Zebras

Black-headed Heron

lions and a dust devil

dust devil

Blue Wildebeest

Black Rhinoceros

Ngorongoro Crater

Common Jackal

Thomson’s Gazelle

African Buffalo

Black Rhinoceros

Sacred Ibis

Great White Pelican

Spotted Hyena

Kongoni (Hartebeest)

Ruffs

Ngorongoro Crater

Simba Camping Site A

In the late afternoon, we left the crater and drove to the Simba Camping Site A where I would spend the night sleeping in a tent. After the sun had set and the camp became silent, a herd of buffaloes entered the clearing and quietly grazed among the tents – a true safari experience!