For once we didn't mind getting up early. A glorious red sunrise over the edge of the crater as we ate breakfast. Then off early for a 600 metre decent into the crater itself, and our last game drive.
Probably the best game drive that we have done, as all the animals and birds were so compact. Highlights included a baby wildebeest that was less than 20 minutes old, a baby gazelle being born, and our first sighting of a black rhino, the excitement of which was tempered by this big whooshing sound just as it turned for us to take the classic side on photo. Our back tyre was rapidly deflating. 'Bother', said our driver, or at least something like that in Swahili. 'Stay in the car, you never know where the lions are', as he attempted to beat the F1 record for changing a tyre, while another driver stood guard with nothing but a snarl to repel any predators.
Saw all the usual suspects - lions, zebras, buffalo, wildebeest, gazelle, warthog, jackal, and a lot of different birds, the highlight of which was a huge flock of pink flamingos on the lake.
On the way back out we came across a group of about 30 cars all crowded together - a sure sign that there was something to see. Sure enough there were about 10 lions lying about amongst the cars, and in some cases lying against them so that the inner cars couldn't move. Some cars couldn't get out, some couldn't get in, and there was lots of drivers tooting and shouting at each other. So much for the instruction to keep quiet as it might frighten them away. However, lots of lions walked past our car, so it was pretty unique.
Finally, we ascended back up the crater without second gear, got back to camp, packed up our tents, and had some lunch. In typical fashion we were the last to arrive at the campsite yesterday, and also the last to leave today. The drive out of the park was slow and dusty, with yet more exit formalities at the gate. We dropped the cooks off at the first town, and then stopped just a bit down the road yet again at a Tanzanite Gallery for some of the girls to add to their jewelry collection.
Finally back to camp to hose the dirt off us and our gear, set up camp, and greet our regular tour guides who had remained in camp. After tea, some of the group partied in the bar till 3pm, partly because some of the group were leaving us the next day, partly because they were back in civilisation, and partly because they could.
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