The crater was formed two or three million years ago when a volcano exploded and then collapsed into itself; today the crater spans about one hundred square miles.

The name of the crater, Ngorongoro and the surrounding area comes from a Maasai word for the sound that cowbells make.

The Mbulu and Datoga people were here until the Maasi took over the land in the 19th century.

The crater holds about 25,000 large animals of various types. The rhino, elephant, zebra, lion, cape buffalo and wildebeest can be seen here in their natural habitat.

We got up very early today, packed a lunch and headed for the interior of the crater. The road up through the park is narrow and dangerous. The fog lies thick around us and the land is soon covered in dense jungle. We can see bits and peices of it as we travel ever higher into the crater. Trees seem to hang in the air, their lower trunks invisible as are the tops of them.

This is really just a red dirt track but large trucks, busses and the like use this as a way to get into the crater and over to the other side. There is another way but it is much longer.

Two Land Rovers can pass each other but with one having to sit on the very edge of the road. I use that term, road, loosely here by the way.

The ride was slow, up hill and dusty. We are used to that by now. We are veterans of the slow and dusty road. Large trees loomed over us as we seemed to drive back into the distant past. We then started down into the crater.

After a perilous journey with great views of the grass lands below us we finally reached the bottom of the crater and the many animals that live there. Lakes can be seen below us, as well.

Elephants walked right up next to our Land Rovers as we watched a group cross the road. We could have reached out and touched them if we dared. We didn’t.

Being this close to these animals lets one appreciate the size of them. They are silent as they stride past us looking for more food. No problem. This crater is a giant salad bowl for them. They seemed to look right at us through the windows as the walked by.

We passed a large truck that had lost it’s brakes and used a large rock road marker as a way to come to a sudden, if not safe stop. The other choice was to go over the edge of the road. There was little room to skirt around it.

It will have to be rebuilt where it now sits. A crew will be brought out and it will be repaired on the road. We will pass by it in a few days and see the progress that has been made.

When we reached the bottom of the crater herds of animals stood watching us and then lowered their heads to eat. We are small and not very imposing to them. This site is worth traveling these long distances to see.

We have now seen thousands of animals in three countries here in Africa now. We have had no problems with the people. They are friendly and gracious.

My wife is a trooper and never complains about the rough aspects of our trip here in Africa. The mice eating into our duffle bag has been her only area of concern. She is not a fan of mice. Few women are.

We have found and purchased three masks to add to our ever growing collection.

We have suffered no injuries as of now. My wife broke her foot in Greece on the first day of our trip there for the Olympics years ago but managed to hobble thorough our trip with few complaints.

Tomorrow we visit the Hadzabe and the Datoga villages. One tribe hunts and trades meat to the other for metal arrow heads made from large nails beaten flat and cut into interesting shapes with very sharp edges.

Our lodge is three miles from the main highway and hanging up on the edge of a lush, green valley.

Today we also visited with a family of coffee growers and roasters just outside of our lodge. They also keep bees. The honey is a little thinner than we are used to at home and often used as a medicine rather than for eating. It was a very interesting visit though we do not drink coffee.

We also stopped at a woodcarvers studio on the way back to the lodge and watched a few men working. They do great wood carvings there.

One can live well here on less than $400.00 U.S. per month.

Many videos from this adventure are on Facebook and instagram at R.C. Hand. Thanks for stopping by.