After a lovely evening at the Ngornongoro Farm House, we drove down into the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, which is called a crater but is really a caldera and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We had our only rhino siting and that was from a distance. No giraffes, impala, topi or crocodiles live in the crater, but many other species make their home there.
There were many water birds in this protected area which, unfortunately, are often difficult to positively ID.
From an overlook.
Our lunch spot.
Panorama from the floor of the crater
At the lunch spot. Probably some kind of weaver. Liked the juxtaposition to the sign. Feeding animals is strictly forbidden, but that doesn't stop some from doing it.
Some kind of weaver. They are so tough to ID.
Another weaver. Posted to iNaturalist to see if they can help with ID>
Weaver.
Can you see the blurry rhino in the distance? Our only rhino spotting.
Yellow-billed stork
Gray Heron
Olive baboon, up close
A falcon of some kind, I think. Maybe be an African hobby. Waiting on ID.
Common Eland, and youngster.
Grant's Gazelle
Secretary birds working on a nest on the top of a tree.
Secretary birds working on a nest on the top of a tree.
White-browed coucal, probably. It has a long tail but I didn't get a good photo.
Rock martin, I think.
Rock martin, in flight
Rock martin nest
Little Bee-Eater
Spotted hyenas, lounging in the mud holes.
Grey crowned crane - stunning birds.
Grey crowned cranes - in flight
Grey crowned cranes - in flight
Standoff between a serval and East African wolf.
Standoff between a serval and East African wolf.
The wolf buddy stopped by too. Everyone left unharmed.
Serval - gorgeous cat and the last of the big cats we spotted.
Serval ears.
Augur Buzzard. In my experience, one food tucked up is a sign of contentment.
Augur Buzzard
Augur Buzzard - note the red tail feathers.
Augur Buzzard - note the red tail feathers.
Pond at our lunch spot.
One of the many weavers at our lunch spot. I suspect they have been fed.
White-necked raven, lousy photo
One of the many weavers at our lunch spot.
East African Wolf - if you saw one here you would swear it is a coyote.
Spur-winged Goose
Flamingos and zebra in the mud flats
In the crater, lone flamingo
Greater flamingo. Pink beak at the base, black at the top.
Lesser flamingo - much more black on the bill
Flamingo - from this view I don't know what kind.
Red-knobbed coot
Pied Avocet - so graceful
Left - African spoonbill, right - African sacred ibis
Little sting - maybe. These little ones are very hard to positively ID
Blue-billed Teal
Little stint?
Blacksmith lapwing
Cape teal
Hippos with a long-tailed cormorant
Spotted hyena. I can't figure out what he/she is eating.
Spotted hyena. I can't figure out what he/she is eating.
Cabbage tree emperor moth. This one was dead and near the door to our lodge.