Rwandan Adventure - 11th Day -Karatu - Ngorongoro Crater - Serengeti, Tanzania - Sunday, 18 Dec 2022

 

Karatu to Ngorongoro Crater to Serengeti, Tanzania

 - Sunday, 18 December 2022

Extremely early morning.  Alex has rearranged the schedule to allow us to catch up after the flights snafu.  Up at 4:20am, bags out by 5:30am & to breakfast.  On the road by 6:30am.  Ick!

It was an easy drive through Karatu to the entrance to the Ngorongoro Crater.  Not a lot of people out & about that early!

A little hazy this morning.  Didn't even stop at the first viewpoint.  Pulled in, but just too hazy to see anything.  Kept on going.

Just before the descent into the crater, there was a rest stop with a toilet.  Stopped there for a few minutes.  Short uphill walk to the toilets with views of the lake down inside.  Still hazy, but gorgeous!

Northern Ant Eater Chat

Couldn't ID, but Hawk Species

Egyptian Geese (really a duck)

Blacksmith Lapwing

Pelicans

Maribou Stork

Male Lion

Male Lion on kill

Golden Jackal

Glossy Ibis

Ruppels Griffon

Tawny Eagle

African Spoonbills

Soon we came upon a fresh Lion kill with tons of wildlife all around it.  There were several lions - some still eating & some sleeping after their gorge.  Lots of birds & a gorgeous Golden Jackal trying to get in there to have a meal also.  There was a small watering hole with lots of birds.  We lingered here quite a while trying to soak it all in!

Fighting Zebra from Ken

Western Yellow Wagtail

White Flax

Gray Heron

The animals/birds/scenery just kept on coming.  We'd find something interesting, watch a bit & get pictures, then move on to another view.  It's like being in a wildlife park.  

We made another stop to watch 2 sleeping lions.  They were just totally sacked out!!  

Then we noticed that in the other direction, there were lots of hippos & some out walking around.  They are absolutely soooooo huge!

We continued to watched for quite a while & then moved on along the river bed to other view points.

We soon spotted some spotted Hyenas & decided to follow them for a while.

Egyptian Goose

The carnivores  have been eating well - there were lots of antelope carcasses everywhere!

We made another short stop to be entertained by the Baboons turning over rocks to find their brunch!

Short video so that you can be entertained by the Baboons as well!!!

Another mixed herd of Grants Antelope, Ostrich, wildebeest, & zebra.  It's just mind boggling.  Interesting fact about the wildebeest & zebra - they don't participate in the migration.  Whether it's because they have plenty of food year round or the difficulty of getting into/out of the crater, it's a fact. 

Helmeted Guinea Fowl

Pied Crow

We stopped at a watering hole for lunch.  We had stopped here before in 2017.  It was a little muddier than when we were here before and a little less water.  More people though!  And we even got a little ice cream from the Mobile Lunch truck.  George's immediately fell off the stick, but I shared mine with him!  There were a few birds around a some hippos in the water.  The Helmeted Guinea Fowl was running all around us.  We ate our lunch in the jeep because the Kites were attacking people for the food.  Didn't ever get a picture of that, but it kept us inside!  It already felt like a long day & we still have hours to go!!!

Black Backed Jackal

We continued our drive, now heading out of the crater.  It was a little more deserted on this side, but still saw zebra and a Black Backed Jackal.

We made one last stop in the Crater before starting the long bumpy ride to our camp in the Serengeti!!  Lots of birds around, so fun last stop!!!  2 different kinds of  Weaver, Guinea Fowl, Starlings (no picture worth while) and an elephant skull which was perfect for a group picture (always suggested by Marilynn! - Thank you Marilynn!!!!).

Our drive out was uneventful.  Saw a few Masai cows & enjoyed a slightly less hazy view.  It was absolutely gorgeous day inside the crater.  Strange that we never saw any elephants.

Once we turned toward the Serengeti, it just got flatter & flatter.  Saw tons of Masai & their cattle.  Kept clouding up & threatening rain, but never did.

Arrived at the park entrance & stopped for a quick stretch of our legs & a picture.  They are making a new big entrance a little further on.  We stopped there quickly for a pee.  Huge amounts of construction, so couldn't take a walk there or anything.  Just scrambled over piles of dirt & debris to get to the toilets!  And back on the road.  It will probably be amazing when it's finished.  We won't recognize it!

Came upon several very fat & sleepy Spotted Hyenas.  They were as interested in us as we were of them.  Enjoyed watching for a few minutes.

Then a couple of nice birds - A huge Tawny Eagle & an Eastern Chanting Goshawk.  Both just posed for pictures.  

The drive continued on.  It was extremely bumpy, but we enjoyed it.  Kept seeing animals & fabulous scenery.  Spotted a pair of Tawny Eagles.

Kori Bustard

There were lots of Kori Bustard.  They stand out & look huge in the grassy plain.

We stopped to mess with a beautiful Hartebeest.  Alex could make a sound like a baby lion & it definitely got his attention.  He finally snorted & ran away!

The scenery was just awesome.  And this huge watering hole had it's large compliment of hippos.  Funny how they all lay on top of one another.  Just like a housing project!  Everyone wants to be close to one another!!

This beautiful little Reed Buck stopped to watch us also.  He sure did blend into the scenery.

White headed Lapwing

White breasted Bustard

Not sure how Alex spotted them, but he caught this 2 birds as we continued down the bumpy road.  At least it was not as dusty as it was the last time!!!

We arrived at camp about 5:45pm.  Alex quickly assigned us to our tents & sent us to get settled. 

Our tent was exactly like the one we had in 2018 We also had to immediately take our showers which discombobulated me, but we were able to comply.  Same system as when we were here before - they come up behind the tent & say "Showa?".  You answer yes & they fill a 5 gallon bucket with hot water & raise it by pulley to use in the shower.  The first person showers and someone comes up and says "more showa?".  You say yes, they pull the bucket down, refill it and lift it back up for the other shower.  We are used to "navy" showers - get wet, shut off the water, suds up, wash hair, then water on for quick rinse...so not a problem for us.  The time consuming thing for me is my insistence on makeup!  But got it done with the required unpacking & back to the main tent by 6:45pm.  It had rained while we were in the tent, but the tent is nice & cozy.  The camp set up is exactly the same as last time, but definitely a different location.  And it's very green this time!

They had us sit in front of the dining room tent for a little more of a briefing (with our welcome drinks!!).  And to watch our first Serengeti sundown!  Then inside for our first meal!  They really know how to cook with that kitchen tent.  Have no idea how they make such elaborate meals.  We were all very chatty & happy to be there.  Plenty to drink of course!  It poured rain while we were eating, but had stopped when it was time to head back to our tents for the night (about 8:15pm).  We did a little more straightening & preparation for tomorrow's safari and even a little writing in my journal!  Bed about 10:30pm.  What a day!!!  Tomorrow is going to be amazing too!!!