ngorongoro crater and the big 5

Ngorongoro Crater formed two to three million years ago, when a large volcano exploded and collapsed on itself. On day three of safari we drove into what is considered to be the seat of humanity.

View driving down - cool and dusty just after dawn 

Approximately 25,000 large animals live in the crater, and in Africa, the big five game animals are the lion, elephant, cape buffalo, leopard and rhinoceros. We saw them all! The term was coined by big-game hunters and refers to the five most difficult animals in Africa to hunt on foot and the degree of danger involved, rather than their size.

Good morning from camp! Coming back later in the morning to pack up and go back out. Definitely heard growling during the night...

People of the Maasai tribe

Incredible morning light!

My money shot

Lions and their kill (what was a buffalo)

We startled this elephant as much as he startled us leaving the crater!

 Goodbye, crater, until next time!

serengeti magic & the milky way

View from the land cruiser

Wildebeest crossing

Elephants! A personal favorite.

Dining under the galaxy

Beautiful universe... I really need to start traveling with a tripod

safari dreamin

Tanzania magic

Within ten hours of being in country, after 3 continents and 2 days of travel, I found myself speaking French in a car with two Moroccans, two Tanzanians and giraffes galloping across the road in front of us. I was definitely not in Chicago anymore.

Travel heightens the senses yet simplifies life at the same time; for me, it literally makes my heart swell. I like the challenge of figuring out new situations and people. Taking in new sights and sounds. It pushes you out of your comfort zones and in doing so you gain confidence and learn so much more about yourself and the world, which really isn't that big at all.

The two Moroccans I was conversing with had just finished climbing Mount Kilimanjaro and one was continuing on safari. Our driver dropped us off at a guest house where we met the rest of our safari crew for breakfast; a lovely Italian couple; Song, from South Korea; and joining us for breakfast was Ana, from Slovenia. None of us knew exactly what was going on, and decided to just go with the flow and trust it would work out just fine. "Hakuna matata," all the locals kept saying, and hakuna matata it was.

Tooth brushing and zebras

Packing up

Serengeti sunset