We came across this fierce–looking Snake Eagle not long after leaving camp.

As we approached Ngorongoro, we saw Masai farmers and villages. As we started up slope, we came across a herder and his camels!

Ngorongoro Mountain is ahead. Our route is going to be up and over the rim, on the left side of this photograph.

This is the view down into the crater from the rim. Our information states the crater is the largest unflooded, unbroken caldera in the world. It’s 12 miles (20 km) across, and about 2,000 feet (800 m) deep.

The road down is one way! It appears to be in good shape.

While descending, we saw a large troop of baboons working their way along the side of the rim. Here is a baby on mom’s back.

Our guide spotted a tremendous number of pink flamingos in the distance.

Here is a look back at the rim from the crater floor.

There were about a half dozen trucks at one spot, and we went over to see what was going on. There were a half dozen lazy lions in the shade of trees. However, there was one other lion close by.

This is an Ngorongoro Wildebeest (a different species than in the Serengeti). We’ve noticed that animals in the crater do not run away from our truck, the way they did in the Serengeti.

We saw a rare black rhino in the distance, but driving off road in the crater is not permitted. So we watched with binoculars for a few minutes from about a half mile away.

We also had a good look at a herd of Elands (they usually turn and run away when they see a truck). Here is one being cleaned by birds.

This is a Serval, jogging along with our truck.

We waited for the hippos to get out of the water, but they proved to be uncooperative.

More lions resting.

This Black–faced Vervet Monkey did not seem to mind really long and sharp–looking thorns!

We had lunch at a picnic area not far from the monkey…and one of our sandwiches was stolen by a bird! 

As we climbed out of the crater on the opposite side of our entry, we got a great look back.

This elephant was by the rim road.

We then turned to go down the side of the crater and made our way to our lodge in the farmland around Karatu. 

The next morning we went to Lake Manyara National Park. We saw several blue monkeys right away.

Here are a group of baboons, some moms nursing their babies.

There were a lot of elephants. Some came close to the truck!

A bit later, we came upon about twenty elephants standing by the side of the road. There were two small elephants and a baby. The herd was very protective of the baby.

After a few minutes, the herd split in two. One half went on the right of our truck and this bunch went by on the left side. Here’s a video.

We explored the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Lake Manyara National Park over a two day drive from Masek Lake Camp.

Next—On to Rwanda.