We were advised to get a TANAPA, National Parks Card as you can’t enter the Serengeti without it. You can’t pay with cash at the gate anymore. As it turned out, they do accept credit cards and you can pay for the camping in cash.
So it was back into Arusha to buy this lot and finally we were on our way again. Information is not readily available so you just have to ask around and invariably you get different answers.
The scenery approaching the Ngorongoro Crater. Here we saw lots of Masaai walking around.
On the way up to the brim of the crater. You climb up to about 2400 meters to the top.
Finally once you are on top the beautiful view into the crater. The lake inside is filled with pink flamingoes.
View into the crater.
View from our camp site.
View from our camp site.
Very basic amenities. The weather was very cold but fortunately there was hot water.
The road down into the crater.
‘Wanna-be’ Springbok.
Hyena.
Jackal and the lake Magadi in the back ground.
Buffalo.
Pumba...
Ellie, they are huge with huge tusks and very old. Apparently the reason being they cannot get out of the crater.
Lioness.
Plenty of Zebras.
Two lionesses sleeping.
Lots of wildebeest.
So, it is debatable if it was worth the $400 for one night camping and a couple of hours in the crater. We also had an issue entering the crater. They don’t allow private vehicles into the crater without an official guide. Another $100. Fine print on your permit. They don’t point this out to you when they take your $200 to enter the crater. We asked them where the ‘guide’, a scruffy looking Masaai, was going to sit as the prado was full.
Anyway, after the magic words, ‘Bafana-Bafana’ and a few shiny South African World Cup pens they allowed us in.