Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Conservation Area — February 2023
The route from Arusha to Ndutu passes through the Ngorongoro conservation area (entered at Lodoware gate) and meanders along the Ngorongoro Crater wall. Most roads are in rather poor condition and are all dirt. The Ndutu area somewhat straddles the border between the Serengeti NP and the Ngorongoro conservation area and entrance passes are required for both the areas when doing safari around Ndutu as, whilst viewing and following wildlife, the border is frequently transected.
As the bookings were done fairly late there was little choice as to which camps one could stay at but fortunately the tourist travel had not totally picked up since Covid. I stayed 2 nights at the Nyikani camp in the Ndutu area, 2 nights at the at the Tanzania bushcamp at Seronera (Serengeti proper / central), 2 nights at the Nyakani camp in the the Ndutu area and one night at Bougainvillea lodge at Karatu ja short way from the Ngorongoro Crater. Entered and exited Serengeti through the Naabi Hill gate. And followed the same route back to Arusha through the Lodoware gate.
Many thanks to George Killas (Guide/Driver for the vacation and owner of Terrain Tanzania Safaris) and and his team who went out of their way to make the safari and unforgettable experience — Including managing the vehicle breakdowns on the unforgiving African soil. Part of the African adventure. He can be seen with one of my lenses on a photo early on in the Serengeti gallery.
Ndutu best experiences: It very surreal experience experience when the herd elephants surrounded the vehicle whilst going about their business of dusting, resting and just communicating. As though they welcomed the vehicle with us in it into their family. Further also really enjoyed the Cheetah hunt and then later taking photos of a cheetah enjoying it’s kill.
Seronera best experiences: Was great discovering the Weavers protecting their nest from a chameleon.
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