We left Maramboi Tented Lodge after breakfast at 6.30am to make a short run to Karatu approximately 100km away where we have left our bikes for the next 2 days whilst we are at the Ngorongoro Crater. They wont allow us to bring the bikes into the crater for safety reasons.

The Ngorongoro crater Lodge is owned and managed by &Beyond (ex cc Africa) and they have done an amazing job with this place. I was last here in 2006 with my wife Ferne and it is still as magnificent as it was then. Although not a low budget destination, it really should be on everybody’s ”bucket list” of places to visit one day.

We got to the lodge early enough to shower, change and get down into the crater for the day which was awesome. We saw 3 of the big 5, plus Cheetah and the usual antelope, zebra and Wildebeest.

The crater itself is truly magnificent. It was created 2.5 million years ago through the collapse of a volcano and has left a 21km by 19km crater with such an incredible and diverse abundance of wildlife that even the cats here are too lazy to hunt at night or with much vigour.

The Rooms at Crater Lodge

Views from the Rooms.

Interior shot.

View from the Bog.

Bikers on Safari

Beautiful Old Male.

Not a horse’s Ass.

Cheetah on the prowl.

2 Seriously grumpy looking old boys.

Even scavengers can be cute.

2 Lazy youngsters.