Out of Africa : Asante Tanzania

This morning was crisp and cool as we left our ridge top lodge and descended into the immense crater called Ngorongoro. The crater was formed 25 million years ago when a volcano collapsed to form a "caldera" with sides over 500 meters high and an area of 20 sq kilometres. It has been compared to both the Garden of Eaden and Noah's Ark- it is easy to see why! All of the big game of Tanzania can be found within the crater except for the giraffe and Impalla. Both of these species are grazers and require the woodland acacia.

Among the highlights today was the sighting of several black rhinos...our top 5 sightings is now complete. There were numerous newborn animals to be seen as well as the lions and other preditors that prey on them. We watched as family groups of buffalo and wildebeest challenged the lurking hyenas, keeping them at bay, for the moment.

Tomorrow will be another early day as we leave this amazing area and make our way back to Arusha, where we will catch the first of three flights that will take us to Victoria Falls. En route we will stop over for a night in Dar es Salaam, on the east coast near Zanzibar and continue through Johannesburg on the way to our next destination.

Asante/thank you, is our heart felt comment as we prepare to leave this beautiful, friendly country of Tanzania.