Just before dawn, we all pile into cramped, decrepit jeeps for our morning game drive in the Ngorogoro crater. Kathryn is a little bit concerned when it becomes apparent the door on their jeep does not shut properly. I clamber into the back of ours, where my still injured knee is bounced against the seat in front as we descend the steep sides of the crater. Down in the crater we can expect to see all of the Big Five and most other wildlife except giraffe. There’s even rumoured to be an elephant’s graveyard. Down by the lakeside the bird life is amazing. Although twitchy by nature I’ve never been much of a twitcher, I don’t even twitter but since starting my African Adventure I can honestly say I find the bird life as fascinating as the animal life. The scenery in the crater is also beautiful and surreal but an hour into our drive we have only seen crown crakes, a few storks and the occasional wildebeest. We game drive veterans are a little disappointed. But not for long. Our driver takes us along a creek towards the edge of the crater. It’s like a mini migration and as we arrive at a crater pool filled with hippos we are treated to the spectacular sight of waves of zebras and wildebeest coming up over the edge and down to the water to drink, before disappearing back over the edge to make room for the next wave. You can almost hear the director in the background. “Ok guys. Group one wildebeest and zebras.. Ready. Take 1. Cameras roll... and action. No.No. No. Unruly mess. Group 2. Get it right. Ready? Action...”.
We are running out of time as we have to be on our way to Arusha but some of the group are still missing Big 5 from their check list. Our driver is on the case. Up another creek where he had spotted lions the day before we get a call. At first, all we can see are jeeps. But there in the grass, we can see a lioness, then 2, then a couple of young males with shaggy manes not quite developed. There is much commotion and jostling of places to get good photos. All too soon we are doing a 3 point turn and heading for the exit, spotting jackals, hyenas and elephant on our way. But there are to be no rhinos for Kim and Zoe who will leave us in Arusha this afternoon
We are running out of time as we have to be on our way to Arusha but some of the group are still missing Big 5 from their check list. Our driver is on the case. Up another creek where he had spotted lions the day before we get a call. At first, all we can see are jeeps. But there in the grass, we can see a lioness, then 2, then a couple of young males with shaggy manes not quite developed. There is much commotion and jostling of places to get good photos. All too soon we are doing a 3 point turn and heading for the exit, spotting jackals, hyenas and elephant on our way. But there are to be no rhinos for Kim and Zoe who will leave us in Arusha this afternoon
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