After lunchtime at the lakeside, our jeep rumbled through the open savannah as we made our way to the exit of Ngorongoro. This was where the expanse of the crater really came to view. There were herds of ungulates: zebras and wildebeest with the occasional gazelles around.
Ostriches were few and far between in the crater, and the few we saw were alone. Our jeep zoomed past this one, shifting to a crawl while we took pictures. It was so peaceful.
It was stark and beautiful. The intense sun beat down on the quietly grazing wildlife. They startled occasionally, but mostly stopped and stared and then got back to grazing. I think the photo of the zebras “On the Lookout” is one of my favorites that I have ever taken.
On our way out of Ngorongoro, we jumbled up up up the wall of the crater on a crazy ride with stunning views and an intense breeze. We laughed the entire way. As we journeyed up and out, we passed a few Olive baboons on the road — and at one point an entire troop on the move. They were curious, but confident. They numbered more than 50.
Once we were out of the park and checking out, the Olive baboons surrounded our jeep. Luckily, nothing was lost.
What was I doing in Tanzania? This was my Social Sabbatical with my company, SAP Concur. Read my stories here.
