Today we have another early start as we are visiting the massive crater within the Ngorongoro Conservation area. The crater which is the world's largest inactive, intact and unfilled volcanic caldera, is 610 metres deep and its floor covers 260 square kilometres. It's a very steep drive down to the crater floor and unfortunately the view is rather obscured by thick early morning cloud.

Once on the crater floor, the weather improves and the cloud starts to disappear and we see zebra, buffaloes, a jackal, a secretary bird (remember those from school days ?) and a Kori Bustard with its feathers stuck up trying to attract a mate.

The main event is however a group of about nine lions, lying out in the sun not far from the road. The word has got around and there are many four-by-fours parked close by. As the sun becomes hotter, the lions start to move one by one to a more shady area which they have to cross the road to reach. They seem to be totally unfazed by the tourists and simply wander between the vehicles seemingly close enough to touch ! We spend quite a long time here just watching this amazing display.

After the lions, we saw more elephants, gazelles, a huge pond of hippos, and a sleepy lion cub, before making a lunch stop at a beautiful spot by a lake.

During lunch, Hulley took the opportunity to tell Isaac about the lost shoes and that he will need to buy some before Saturday to go home. However, Isaac says we will pass very close to Manyara Wildlife Safari Camp tomorrow so he rings them and they say they have the shoes. We will collect them in the morning en-route to Tarangire National Park. Phew !

After a leisurely lunch, we make our way back out of the crater and have a couple of hours relaxing back at the Ngorongoro Farm House.