Ngorongoro

Since visiting the theater performance of Plien and Bianca, we know about the existence of the Ngorongoro crater. An intriguing natural phenomenon. Partly because the big five and many other wild animals live at the bottom of the world's largest volcanic caldera. The name Ngorongoro is probably derived from a certain type of bowl that used the Maasai. The Maasai still live in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The information about gaining access to the area is just as mysterious as the area itself. No official website. Sites with contradictory information. One of them even reports cumbersome procedures with advance payments at a bank. Booking an organized tour is therefore very much encouraged.

First glance
We are guessing that the permit for Ngorongoro CA is also granted in the last village before the park. In a hidden office of NCA. We drive past it. Thanks to the indication on the iOverlander card found. We also buy the expensive permit to descend into the crater itself. At the official entrance gate we have the exact time of arrival registered, half past four in the afternoon. The permit is valid for exactly 5 hours. The offroad road is bad. The fellow road users drive irresponsibly fast, as if their permit expires in a few moments. A lookout point along the way is astonishingly beautiful. It shows the entire crater with a central blue lake in the sun, surrounded by white clouds above the edge. The good weather is lucky, in the middle of the rainy season.

Cold night
The campsite is on the 2.000 meter high crater rim. There we meet two young German men. Overlanders, arrived in a 40-year-old Toyota from Germany. They have our route in the South ahead. We eagerly exchange the experiences and the supply of alcohol that evening. When the sun disappears, it quickly gets cold. The precipitated condensation further reduces the temperature. Onno goes looking for the managers to buy wood. The two men want to deliver a batch of branches for 16 euros. That is the price for their lives, they explain, it is very dangerous to gather wood on the crater rim with its deep abyss and wild animals. Eventually they bring, after good negotiation from Onno, for 8 euro old doorposts. Thanks to the warmth of the campfire, we are the last to go to the tent on the full campsite. The alarm clock rings again at 5 o'clock.

Enter the crater
We arrive at the crater gate at exactly 6 o'clock. We don't want to miss a minute. Very curious about the nature of the crater. There are trees on the crater slope and grass grows below, we cannot make more of it when standing on the edge. The ride down with many hairpin bends is breathtaking. The forest on the particularly steep slope has many different trees, occasionally interrupted by lower bushes that give a view of the large lake below.
Once at the bottom, various routes can be chosen on the 260 km2 area. Our G is the only private car among all game river cars of the organized tours. We decide to follow their route. The experienced rangers probably know where to spot the most wildlife. The grass landscape is more varied than one would suspect from a height. Various types of grass, hills and small rivers to the lake. The vast vast plain continues to impress.

Big five
Some members of the big five are not to be missed. Many buffalo are walking around. The size of the elephant makes it easy to see from a distance. The rhino takes more effort. The stationary game drive cars 'in the middle of nowhere' are an indication of particularly wild. We are curious about what the tourists are staring at. In the middle of the landscape, far from the road, we recognize two rhinos with the binoculars in dark dots. The only one horny specimens that we see, good for a check mark on the spot list. We still miss the lion and leopard. We have to leave the park around noon. With a clear goal in mind, Onno drives past all game river cars that focus on 'normal' game.

Visit
Until we see lions in the middle of the open field at another car. Two young males looking for shade. When the car drives away, we are alone with the big predators that walk around our car. Of all experiences with the king of the wild so far, this is a whole new, unique experience. Never before shot so many photos per minute. The impressive feline animals lie down right next to our car, their legs between the wheels. We and the lions, this may take a long time. When several cars arrive, it's time to go. Driving away becomes a delicate issue. After gently maneuvering the car, the predators pull back the claws and get up. We enjoy afterwards in the rearview mirror.

Weird catch
Miles away there are at least twenty game river cars along the road. Then there must be something special to see. Indeed, an unusual 'live catch'. A buffalo has just killed a young cub. The little lion is immobile, the first bird of prey is already beside him. No mother in sight. We have to get used to the idea that this is also a reality.

On the way up, through the beautiful wooded area, we search in vain for the leopard. Without the leopard, the day is also great. Then we are still ignorant of what awaits us when we drive into the Serengeti this afternoon.