25th Aug'2012 - Serengeti - Ngorongoro - We check out of the resort around 07:00 hrs in the morning and set off on a very very long drive across the vast grass lands of the never ending plains of Serengeti.
We spot a Tawny Eagle and a Wild boar
On the way we shoot a few Impalas - extremely romantic poses!
We have given strict instructions to Ame that we do not want to stop for any more Elephants, Giraffes etc but only for big cats especially a Leopard.
Ame seems to be very keen on taking us to Ngorongoro as soon as possible but suddenly he takes a left turn and we see a horde of vehicles gathering on the road to our right.
We stop along side and realise there is a Leopard sleeping on a branch. Its got this absolutely drained stance with its hind legs hanging on either side of the branch. Blessed! we are!
Somewhere in the middle of Serengeti, we reach a place called Naabi hill where we stop to eat our picnic lunches.
We are advised to trek up the hill to get a bird's eye view of the absolute vastness of the Savannah's.
With all our desires fulfilled (except the Mara river crossing - which we did not get to see) we are happy to continue towards Ngorongoro.
Winding, dirt roads, back breaking drive later we get off at a spot from where we can see a huge white patch with smoke rising from it.
On the way we shoot a few Impalas - extremely romantic poses!
I also manage to get a good clear shot of a Marabou stork on top of a tree and a Vulture as also an orange breasted black bird (unable to figure out what the actual bird is called).
We have given strict instructions to Ame that we do not want to stop for any more Elephants, Giraffes etc but only for big cats especially a Leopard.
Ame seems to be very keen on taking us to Ngorongoro as soon as possible but suddenly he takes a left turn and we see a horde of vehicles gathering on the road to our right.
We stop along side and realise there is a Leopard sleeping on a branch. Its got this absolutely drained stance with its hind legs hanging on either side of the branch. Blessed! we are!
Somewhere in the middle of Serengeti, we reach a place called Naabi hill where we stop to eat our picnic lunches.
We are advised to trek up the hill to get a bird's eye view of the absolute vastness of the Savannah's.
With all our desires fulfilled (except the Mara river crossing - which we did not get to see) we are happy to continue towards Ngorongoro.
Winding, dirt roads, back breaking drive later we get off at a spot from where we can see a huge white patch with smoke rising from it.
We are told that it is the alkaline water evaporating from the Lake below in the Ngorongoro crater.
The crater's name has a unique story. An Englishman who came into the crater, asked a Masai herding his cows as to what the place was called. The Masai thought he was being asked about the sound of bells tinkling from the cows' neck and he said "Ngolon" "Ngolon" which over a period of time became Ngorongoro:)
We spot the Pied crow here (the one that I mentioned about on Day 1 - enroute to Amboseli). It seems to be bigger than a Raven!
As we reach Rhino lodge, our resort for the night, its chilly and drizzling. Absolutely beautiful weather, steaming hot cups of Africafe (African Instant Coffee), we settle down and start shooting the sunset.
Looking forward to our last day of Safari at the crater.
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