Ngorongoro Caldera The largest intact and un-flooded caldera in the world.

Upon arrival at our hotel on the rim, we were greated by the Masai.  This was quite common at most of the places we stayed.

After our entrance we were treated to a dance which consisted of individuals jumping several feet in the main bare footed!

We didn't capture it well but the hotel is built into the side of the caldera.

all the rooms face into the caldera.  This was ours.

Standing on our patio and looking into the caldera.

A Masai village

Helmeted Guineafowl

Male Grant's Gazelle

Ready for our first full day of animal watching.

Wildebeest heading somewhere.

Wildebeest are fairly dumb and usually follow the Zebra which are more intelligent.

This little fella wants to show off that he can run.

And so he can.

This guy heads the list of Africa's  "Ugly Five".

Being a National Conservation area, we were limited to viewing the animals from the road.

Our drivers were good and they spotted these lions in the grass..

If it wasn't for the paws or the ears it would be easy to believe these were rocks.

Would you have seen this guy?

Zebras have a tendency to face away from you.

Kori Bustard - The largest flying bird in Africa

Crowned Plover

Zebra

We came across these spotted Hyenas and they looked on edge.

They started running and shot across the road right in front of us.

They gathered on the other side of the road . It wasn't clear what caused them to react.

Jackals in the midst of wildebeest and zebra.  They ignored them.

Grey Crowned Crane - The national bird of Uganda

Ostrich

Thompson Gazelle  with an elephant watching over them.

Cape Buffalo

Warthog - another of the "Ugly Five"

Vulture

As we were leaving we visited a Masai School

The teacher (woman on left) told us she had 70 pupils in the class.

You couldn't tell the boys from the girls as they all had their heads shaved to conserve water.

The school is supported by donations from Tauck and the hotel