In the northwest corner of Tanzania lies two of the seven natural wonders of Africa, the Serengeti Plains infamous for the largest land animal migration in the world (the Serengeti migration) and the Ngorongoro Crater, which isn’t actually a crater but a caldera, a volcano which collapsed into itself forming a cauldron-like formation.

The name Serengeti is derived from the Masai word ‘Serengti’, which means endless plains. And that is exactly what you see on safari. An endless plain of grass, with wildebeests, buffalos, zebras, giraffes, various species of antelopes, gazelles and impalas grazing as they make their journey. The safari 4WD is a pretty standard ride, sitting up to 6 people with an elevated roof so you get a good vantage point. But the view is way beyond standard. Seeing hundreds, even thousands, of zebras, antelopes and wildebeests travelling in pods is an unforgettable sight.

The Ngorongoro Crater is mind-blowingly beautiful. The year-round green grasslands with some woodlands provides a safe haven for all the animals that live within the crater. The animals here have no need to leave, which is a huge juxtaposition being right next to the largest land animal migration in the world. There are good populations of flamingoes, hippopotamuses, elephants, zebras and lions living in the Ngorongoro Crater.

Flashback! Remember watching the Lion King as a child? I sure did. The Ngorongoro Crater reminded me so much of the Pride Lands which Mustafa and Simba ruled. The edge of the Pride Lands not to be wandered felt like the dark edges of the Ngorongoro Crater, always in the shadow of the sun. And the elephant graveyard does exist! Elephants loose their teeth they age, and when they have lost all their teeth and thus their ability to eat tree bark and harder shrubbery, they move towards green grass pastures. Think of these elephants as grandparents with no teeth or dentures, unable to eat unless it is soft mushy food. They spent their last days on this green grass pasture until they die and leave, after some time, just their skeletal remains. No dead elephants on my watch, only this beauty in the woodlands of the Ngorongoro Crater smiling for the camera 🙂

We spent the night camping on the edge of the Ngorongoro Crater. Because it’s elevated, it can be quite cool at night, which I hadn’t really planned well for considering I was packing for African heat. Luckily we had a campfire to keep us warm. And it was on this night that I got one of what was going to be many close-up encounters with wild animals. A pack of zebras walking only 3 metres far from me and my tent, probably in search of our food or water. It was just dark, and only moments after this photo of our campground was taken. Sadly I missed capturing them on this occasion, but they were still there in the morning, wanting to say hello.

And the adventure continues.