Ngorongo Conservation Area

Before coming on this safari trip I have never heard of Ngorongo Crater.  It is part of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA), a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  Its western part abuts the Serengeti National Park.  Together with the /Maasai Mara Game Reserve, the three area is home to the Great Migration, an annual migration of millions of wildebeest, zebras, gazelles, and other animals.

Location of Ngorongo Crater

When the Serengeti National Park was established in 1959,  the British Government put restrictions on human settlements and many of the Masai tribes were moved to the NCA.  However, there are also restrictions living and farming in the NCA.  It is an unique area because it protects wildlife at the same time allowing human settlement.

After leaving Mto Wa Mbu we drove about 3 hours to Karatu, where we checked into the beautiful Tloma Lodge.  This is a walled lodge so there is no fear of wild animals roaming the grounds.

Tloma Lodge

Rooms where we are staying

Patio Area

Lobby

In the morning we start off on our first game drive of the NCA.  I was surprised to find so many vehicles at the entrance.

Vehicles waiting to get into the NCA

Contrary to what most people think, it was cold when we set out in the morning.  We were at about 7,000 feet above sea level.  When we drove towards the crater much of the area was covered with morning fog.  It was hard to look for animals in the fog.  

Cranes

Birds

Warthog "kneeling" because they have short legs

A serval cat

We had a chance to visit a coffee farm in the village.  It was refreshing to relearn how coffee is harvested and roasted.  Here everything is done manually.

Ripe Coffee fruits

Coffee Roaster

Another unique thing that we did on this trip is visiting a couple of bushmen tribes.  The Hadzabe or Hadza tribe is one of the last remaining hunter-gatherer tribes in the world.  They are also known for their "click" language, which is believed to be one of the oldest languages in the world.  They introduced us to their way of life, how they hunt, what type of animals they hunt, etc.

Hadzabe Bushmen

Our spokesperson

Speaking to the group

The size of their house

Next we visited the Datooga People, another bushmen tribe who are also craftsmen.  They make tools and arrowheads to trade with the Hadzabe people.  The two tribes complement each other, one supplying tools, the other supplying food.

Datooga Women

We also visited a moonshine business near the lodge.  Because of the high prices for legal alcohol many Tanzanians turn to moonshine to satisfy their alcoholic thirst.

Still for making moonshine

On the last day in the NCA we saw more animals, as we drive west towards Serengeti National Park.  

Impalas

More Elephants

We saw lions that were so used to people that they couldn't care less if you stop next to them.  At a rest stop where we had lunch, we were told to walk around a barricaded area.  Why?  There was a lion sleep next to the toilets.  The game warden didn't want the tourist to wake up the lion.