Friday 25 July
We headed through the town of Karatu and up to the Ngorogoro NP.
The road winds up to the rim of the Ngorogoro Crater, which is 2300m above sea level.
It's cooler and very forested at higher altitudes.
After the view site we stopped for our picnic. Our lodge had packed us boxed lunches which we soon learned is how it's done on safari all over Tanzania.
Then began the descent into the Ngorogoro Conservancy, the Maasai territory, on the worst dirt roads. Shake, rattle and hope you don't roll.
And it's busy. Hundreds of safari vehicles (all Landcruisers),delivery trucks and local taxis (all old Landrovers; often broken down!)
The Maasai are no longer nomadic but they do still live traditionally,herding their cattle and sheep amongst the zebra, gazelle and wildebeest. Earlier we had stopped at a Maasai village for the "tourist experience" so it was good to see it wasn't all just for show.
Just before the border gate between Ngorogoro NP and Serengeti NP we came across a pride of lion.
The Maasai are compensated for any livestock that falls prey and conservation practices benefit both locals and wildlife.
Once inside the Serengeti the road improved a bit but as we travelled from South to Central Serengeti the game viewing was so fabulous we forgot all about the roads.
We were lucky to see a Cerval too.
We are stayed 3 nights at another TBC camp; a very similar set up to the one in Tarangire but much busier with about 20 guest tents. They do have wifi in the dining room but it's not great so we went more or less off line for a few days.
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