January 30

Today was the 2nd of 2 days we spend at the 8th wonder of the world, the Ngorogoro crater. It was amazing. We got up at 5:45 to start a 7:00 game drive. At lunch, some of our group decided to head back to the lodge (Trent included). The die-hards piled into 2 vans and spent the whole day in the crater. We didn't know what kind of wildlife we would see, because it had been raining all night. It cleared up just as we rolled through the gate! How wonderful for the weather to be so accommodating to us. How considerate!

It started raining again later in the afternoon as we were leaving, but we had a great day. I can't even count how many wildebeest, zebra, impala and gazelle we saw!! Les said he's been here 6 times and this is the wettest he's seen it. The rains are good, though, they will bring th e wildebeest.

WE SAW LION! My first lion this trip. Les put the count at 27, but not everybody saw all 27, and most were too far away to photograph. Today's pride was about 12 strong, and dozing by the side of the road without a care in the world. Their engorged bellies told us they ate well last night.

We also saw a lot of hyene, watrhog, and cape buffalo. One hyena was limping, and it looked as though one warthog had dislocated her hind-right leg. So, I've decided to be an optimist and think she will be able to hide from the carnivores until her leg is healed. Warthogs often take over old hyene dens, so... it's possible?!

We found out today why trees don't grow in the plains of the crater - because there is a thick layer of calcium carbonate close to the surface that tree/shrub roots can't penetrate. The only reason shrubs/trees can grow near the river bed is that over time, the water has permeated the calcium layer and weakened it. Neat!

I still have a stomach ache, so I'm on full-time cipro (antibiotics). I also have a headache today, but it's not like the migraines I get at home.

Trent is ready to go home. He's exhausted the supply of movies on my Ipod, and isn't interested in the book he bought. 2 weeks without a TV is a lot to ask for a man who lists it as a necessary technology! He's done so well to this point but his interest is quickly waning.

A few others in our group are growing tired of the game drives. My question is - what did they think they were going to do? The itinerary was available to all to read, our activities weren't a secret. Les is doing a fantastic job of making everyone happy. Though, a couple group members would have liked to have more cultural experiences. I say - bring on the elephants!