Ngorongoro Crater Archive
On Safari: Animal Paradise
Posted by jimheck in Big Game, Ngorongoro Crater, OnSafari on April 9, 2013
Our game drives in Ngorongoro Crater were exceptional, but in the course of my career they always seem to be. It’s an absolute wildlife paradise. We actually visited the park twice, because our game drive to Lake Manyara was prevented by terrible floods. But the crater although beautifully green had wonderful roads and tracks and [...]
Ripped Off Paradise
Posted by jimheck in Corruption, Ecology, Environment, Ngorongoro Crater on January 17, 2013
Paradise is being abandoned. Tanzania’s Ngorongoro Crater, its greatest single tourist attraction and one of the most pristine areas on earth, is in the midst of a political crisis that threatens normal tourism there. Officialdom in Tanzania is rarely much more than organized crime, but even that can be better than the mayhem currently being [...]
War in Ngorongoro?
Posted by jimheck in Ngorongoro Crater, Politics, Poverty, Wildlife Management on February 25, 2010
Education is fine if you’ve got something to do with it. Is there going to be war in Ngorongoro? The great experiment known as the “NCA” in what ABC’s Good Morning America christened one of the world’s Natural Wonders is coming apart. Most tourists know it as “The Crater.” But Ngorongoro Crater National Park is [...]
Dave’s Winning Video
Posted by jimheck in Big Game, Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire on December 8, 2009
I am sent hundreds of hours of video and thousands of photos every year, and I love watching them all. But this takes the prize! The prize winner is by one of the nicest guys I’ve ever guided on safari, Cleveland veterinarian, Dave Koncal. He is not a photographer or cinematographer by trade, but he [...]
Crater Surprise
Posted by jimheck in Big Game, Ngorongoro Crater on September 2, 2009
It’s dryer than normal, and this is the driest time of the dry season. Normally, there would be around 4000 animals in the crater. Was I surprised! The Cleveland Zoo safari went from the Serengeti to Ngorongoro, via Olduvai Gorge and Shifting Sands. We had two game drives in the crater, and they were absolutely [...]
Crater of Cats
Posted by jimheck in Big Game, Ngorongoro Crater, Planning Travel on July 6, 2009
This is not the best time to visit Ngorongoro, because so many of the animals have left during the dry season. And that meant for us, lots of cats! Travel brochure description is a communication form that is often low on truth. And economies often motivate the travel companies to use the same description of [...]
Dream Crater
Posted by jimheck in Big Game, Ngorongoro Crater on June 22, 2009
The crater just never fails. Even now when drier than normal, we had the game drive of our lives! As usual, we were first down. Which is a substantial effort, especially now in the cold season when three sweaters and gloves barely keeps you warm. The rim was shrouded in thick cloud and there was [...]
Crater Experience
Posted by jimheck in Big Game, Ngorongoro Crater, Safari Lodges on April 5, 2009
Good Morning America named the crater one of the natural wonders of the world, which it is without doubt. But the fulsome experience includes much more than just this indescribable beauty. I’ve heard several experts refer to the ancient Ngorongoro volcano as the world’s tallest structure, greater than Everest. I don’t know if this is [...]
Fabulous Crater
Posted by jimheck in Big Game, Ngorongoro Crater on March 23, 2009
The crater never seems to fail me. But client patience made it better than ever. We left Crater Lodge at 6 a.m. having cajoled our butlers to wake us shortly after 5 a.m. with hot drinks and the cookies of the day. It was dark until we reached the down-road gate around 6:30a. Even on [...]