Day 8 Ngorongoro Crater

Topped up with fuel, driven to the park entrance and with permit paid and in hand ready to go? No, hold everything - permit not stamped back to the office!! Issue rectified and ready to go?  No, hold everything - camping permit for 2 days not one!! Issue rectified paperwork all completed in triplicate and were off ascending up a twisting, steep road, with forest either side, through thick cloud to eventually emerge on the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater to spectacular views in bright sunshine. Then a quick 50 minute bone shaking drive round the lip of the crater before more paperwork and finally descending down the steepest track we’ve been on so far into the crater itself.

The crater itself was not really what we expected to start with but we did eventually find: huge herds of wilderbeast and zebras; Warthogs a plenty; elephant; hyenas which seemed to thrive here along with tow pods of hippos and small pride of lions.  

So if you have to, where should you break down?  The middle of Ngorongoro Crater surrounded by lions with one sitting in the shadow of your Landrover next to the back wheel (Ian was very upset that I wouldn't open the window to take her photo!).  It will certainly make our visit memorable. Luckily we managed to fix the problem without having to get out - a loose battery connection!! But all not before we had entertained the people in 3 safari vehicles.

After 6 hours in the crater we made our back up to the rim and the Simba campsite.  Pretty basic site full of overlanders.  Our saga with equipment continued with the fridge packing up so all the meat had to be thrown away – tea was pretty rubbish and we need to work out how to cook some descent food with the tinned supplies we have.