aki

On Monday morning, we visited a Maasai chief. He answered questions about his culture: how all cows belong to the Maasai; how they herd the cows away when wildebeest are giving birth, since the afterbirth is poisonous to the cows; polygamy; how they traditionally stained their furs red but now bought red-dyed clothing.

After lunch we drove to Ngorongoro Crater, where, because of the protected conservation area, there were lots of animals. Grey crowned cranes; jackals; hyenas.

We drove up to a hippo pool and saw them up close. None of this struggling-at-800mm like the day before.

A lion was sleeping in the distance, our first big cat.

Further along, we saw two lions sleeping next to the road, lazy after mating. They rolled over, and I managed to get a picture when the male lifted his head, just for a moment.

We arrived at Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge just as the sun was setting.

At dinner, the lights went out, then the servers came out with a lit torch, singing in Swahili; I guessed this was their birthday ritual.

The rest of the photos are here.

Previously:

• i: departure. arusha coffee lodge. 3-5 oct, 2012
• ii: meetup. first safari - lake manyara. plantation lodge. 6 oct 2012
• iii: lake manyara. plantation lodge. 7 oct 2012