May 2005 Kenya/Tanzania, Africa Trip Report Part 5 Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania Ngorongoro Crater Lodge is perched on the edge of the world-famous Ngorongoro Crater at the eastern edge of the Serengeti in northern Tanzania. The Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge is quite pleasant and has a garden that looks down into the crater. The bellboys here hold hands as they walk down the paths. Blue Monkeys peer down at us from the trees surrounding the rooms. There are some huge trees on the hotel grounds. Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge, Ngorongoro Crater ,Tanzania Running through the trees @ Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge , Tanzania That night at dinner the staff come out and sing some traditional African songs. Their voices sound amazing. I like they way all sway in time to get the beat before a song starts. After dinner a guard has to walk us back to our room as dangerous Buffalo sometimes wander on the hotel paths. Pop-top roof in Tanzania In the morning we descend into the crater, on the way down we see Black Shrike (also known as the Butcher Bird because it sometimes impales other birds on thorns). There are Hyenas, Lions,Wildebeest, and Zebras on the floor of the crater. The zebras rest their heads on each other in a cute display but it is really to confuse predators. There are some Black Rhinos and lots of Jackals. A pair of male lions doze in a field of wild flowers. The Zebras do this to confuse predators in Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania We have lunch near a pond full of hippos, a sign advises "Don't feed the Animals ". We are warned by our guide Benjamin to watch out for Kites overhead as they may try to steal our lunch. A Superb Starling eyes my rice and we can hear the calls of the Hippos as we dine in the grass. A very nice setting for lunch. Don't feed the Animals in Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania Superb Starling @ Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania There is also a Flamingo lake here and we are concerned when we see a guy get out of a car and walk towards the flamingo but he turns out to be researcher working in the crater. See a funny Elephant that rests his trunk on his tusks and a very black maned Lion. We notice how the lions all have flies all over their faces. At dinner the staff come in and do some more songs for us. Fly-covered Lion @ Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania On to Part 6 Lake Manyara National Park, Tanzania Trip Report Index