The Big 5 in 1 Big day - DAY 8 & 9

After a 20 min drive this morning we arrived at the ridge of the crater a little after 7 am. Other then the temperature being about 9*c the view was something to be witnessed.

My camera could zoom in far as to see silhouettes of elephants and buffalos it was about another 20 mins before we started our descent into the crater.

Within our first 500 metres going into the crater, our first encounter was the flapping ears of 3 large elephants within 10 metres from the vehicle—the beginning of what was to be a fantastic day of game viewing.

Next up and followed by Zebra, Thompson & Grant gazelles, Buffalos and Eland's, Hyena's, Jackals and a vast array of birdlife. They were in all the places you'd expected them to be, Zebras and Wildebeests in the plains Hippopotamus in the waterholes & Lions in the Grass.

It was a joy for the senses, but no matter where you looked, there was something to see and easy to spot. Within the first hour we were able to tick off 4 of the big 5. Elephant, Black Rhino, Buffalo and Lion. We had only the elusive leopard to go and as rare as it is to see. We were hopeful to 'spot' them in the crater.

While it was a very early start and the day was only young, we had a considerable part of the day left. We set up for lunch on the ridge where we were competing for our chicken pieces with red kites & marabou stalks. We wanted the chicken more then they did, and this time and they missed out.

We hit the road again, through what was the most scenic and exciting of our drives yet. We had a 3-hour drive through the Ngorongoro Crater national park, many wouldn't have heard of this, but it's one of the main passages for the migration. 2 million wildebeest migrate through here each February - April.

The drive was about 190km on a straight yet very bumpy road, with so much to view it was better then people watching that lasted for hours. The barren plains soon started to fill with trees, rocks and pop up oasis like scenery. We had arrived into the Serengeti national park. Borders drawn with nothing but a pencil on a map. There was no fences and nothing seemed man made. Just dirt roads and long grass.

As the rain started to settle over us we were listening to Toto. Within minutes we crossed our first pride of lions roadside in the Serengeti.

We drove around until sunset and spotted a few things, Serval, Giraffes, Mongoose and herds of Hippopotamus as we crossed riverbanks and watering holes.

Within a few kilometres from camp we spotted a few sleeping lions that seemed only interested in the backs of their eyelids, thankfully.

Arriving in camp, the expectations here fell far far far! From the tree. Dinner was almost ready, Rain stopped for a short while, great!

Campsite without a fence, um WHAT! Where's the gate? Where are the men with guns? Toilet 1km from the tent, no lights, no power, no hot water.

I'm not an ignorant traveller when I know things aren't always as expected, but seriously, NO fence! People around camp keep referring to TIA. "This is Africa" Let's hope that the "lion only sleeps tonight". I was considering that we had only seen them just 5 mins ago, less than 2 km away.

Dinner, Bed no time to think about it, try and sleep after our 450km drive today. Day 9, awaking early again for what was also to be a massive day of game driving and making our way back to Arusha. We still were on the lookout for our elusive leopard. After a cold shower a and a hot breakfast we set out early in an attempt to spot the leopard and any others which call the Serengeti home.

Five minutes after leaving camp, there it was, four trucks already witnessed four lions who had chased our now non-elusive leopard up a tree. He was a full-grown male leopard, high and dry with an evident look about him to give off the fact the Lions were still around. It was fair to say that we didn't see the big 5 in 1 day. But we saw them all in 24 hours.

Shortly followed by numerous others, Nile Crocodiles and more excitingly the Cheetahs, Mother and her three cubs.

Amazing!!!

We could relax now, we have seen more than expected, and anything else was a bonus. We crossed more paths of the wildebeest migration—herds of elephants in the long grass and several 100 Zebras.

It indeed was Africa in a Day.

After 5 hours of game driving it was time for lunch at the rocky hill, gateway point to the Serengeti and our drive back to Arusha followed shortly after.

We were joining an already existing group who had already done specific experiences we were yet to do. An hour into our drive back, we were able to stop for a visit to a Masai village.

I'll let the photos explain the hilarity of this, and I wasn't feeling the best after the bumpy drive.

Aaron tried "his best" to dance with the Masai. I compared this to the kid at school who couldn't skip and only tried by hopping around. Not to mention he was holding a stick that he later 'tried' to jump along.

I wanted to laugh so hard at this, but not to offend the Masai people I had a pretty hard giggle to myself. Unfortunately I felt the Masai village was a bit of a money grab. $10 to visit. $5-10 donation for their school. Tip for the Masai guide then forced to buy their handmade crafts. I came out unscathed as we were separated to go inside their houses.

The next I saw Aaron he was covered with all the handmade crafts, I had to laugh and said, what are you doing wearing all these? He said I think I'm supposed to buy them. I laughed when he said he was going to pay USD 30 for all that crap.

I told him you could say no.

We got it down to just 1 item and only $10.

It was a great experience either way and something we can say now we've done.

Onto Arusha we had a further 3 hours to go but arrived at camp about 5:30 to a cold beer and a successful trip now complete.

Tomorrow we make ground for Dar Es Salam but with an overnight stop in Kgrongwe. Countdown to Zanzibar 2 nights until a decent hot shower a soft pillow and decent nights sleep and pool and some well-needed RNR.

Aaron's more excited about getting out the fishing rod.

-End