Our Planet’s Landmarks Series #19<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nNgorongoro Crater Arusha Region Tanzania<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nIt was my first safari ride in Ngorongoro. We had been driving along the rim of a two-million-year-old caldera for a few minutes. I was not sure what this empty vastness had in store for me. After all, it was Ngorongoro. I could not see any animals. And I was getting restless. <\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Migration](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.travelure.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/NC-4-1024x683.jpg?resize=696%2C464&ssl=1\")
<\/a>Migration of wildebeest in Ngorongoro<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n‘You\nsaid I’ll see many animals here. I haven’t yet seen any!’ I cribbed to Sam, my\nsafari driver-cum-guide. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘Shhhh\u2026\nlook to your left, over the embankment’, he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.travelure.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/NC-1-1024x683.jpg?resize=696%2C464&ssl=1\")
<\/a>A stare that holds – Lioness in Ngorongoro<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe\nsight took my breath away. Eight feet away, at my eye level, a lioness was\nenjoying the afternoon sun. She glanced at me, got bored, looked away, and\nstretched to catch a slumber.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That was the first of many encounters. Ngorongoro had started to unravel itself. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
More wildlife stuff? Click HERE<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\nAs we\nmade our way down from caldera rim to the world within, I saw a zeal of zebras\ngrazing. As we stopped by, they crossed the jeep track. Remembering the phrase\n‘zebra crossing’, I could not stop myself from smiling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Zebra](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.travelure.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/NC-2-1024x683.jpg?resize=696%2C464&ssl=1\")
<\/a>Zebra Crossing in Ngorongoro<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nA\nlittle further, I spotted a huge meandering bunch of wildebeest and zebras. It\nwas migration time. Sam said they hang together. Because zebras are good at\nfinding direction, and wildebeest suck at it. A perfect symbiotic relationship\nin nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Migration](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.travelure.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/NC-3-1024x683.jpg?resize=696%2C464&ssl=1\")
<\/a>Migration in Ngorongoro Crater<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nCats and More<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nFurther\nup, we saw hordes of jeeps scurrying to a spot leaving dust clouds in their\nwake. Sam too sped to follow them. As we reached the spot, I had my first-ever\nglimpse of the fastest cat – cheetah! Seeing action, the lazing cat stretched\nand got up. It started its slow walk to nowhere. ‘Finished his meal,’ Sam told\nme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"My](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.travelure.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/NC-5-1024x683.jpg?resize=696%2C464&ssl=1\")
<\/a>My first-ever glimpse of cheetah in Ngorongoro<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"...and](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.travelure.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/NC-12-1024x683.jpg?resize=696%2C464&ssl=1\")
<\/a>…and the cheetah walks<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nA few\nclicks later, we made our way to nowhere in particular. Like the crater\ncreatures, we were also on a prowl.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After\ngoing around for a while, we spotted a pride of lions. Actually, a few cubs.\nTheir parents nowhere in sight, these cubs were climbing over each other. It\nwas their little game. A heart warming sight!<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Playful](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.travelure.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/NC-7-819x1024.jpg?resize=696%2C870&ssl=1\")
<\/a>Playful cubs<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"Cub](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.travelure.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/NC-6-683x1024.jpg?resize=683%2C1024&ssl=1\")
<\/a>Cub sidles up to the jeep<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAs we\nwatched them, one cub decided to sidle up to a jeep behind ours. He rubbed\nhimself against the tyre. He was itchy. Cameras all around clicked away. A\nmoment captured. The cub too realised that. And walked away from the jeep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Rhino\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.travelure.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/NC-16-1024x683.jpg?resize=696%2C464&ssl=1\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/li>![\"Wild](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.travelure.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/NC-15-1024x683.jpg?resize=696%2C464&ssl=1\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/li>![\"A](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.travelure.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/NC-13-1024x683.jpg?resize=696%2C464&ssl=1\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/li>![\"Wild](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.travelure.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/NC-14-1024x683.jpg?resize=696%2C464&ssl=1\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/li>![\"Lioness](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.travelure.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/NC-8-819x1024.jpg?resize=696%2C870&ssl=1\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/li>![\"A](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.travelure.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/NC-10-1024x683.jpg?resize=696%2C464&ssl=1\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\nI saw hippos in the marshy stretches of the crater. Gazelles and ostriches all around. Langurs and wild dogs on some patches. And a rhino or two in the distance. But, there were no giraffes anywhere. The day rolled on and it was time to exit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Man-Animal Conflict or Coexistence<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nNext\nmorning, I rode in through a different access to the reserve. At dawn, as the\nmorning mist swirled around, I saw Masai families working the fields inside the\ncrater. Sam explained local law permits Masais sustenance level farming in the\nconservation area. He also talked about peaceful coexistence of those tribesmen\nand animals. ‘They are used to each other,’ he said. Made me think our cities\nare wilder than this wildlife reserve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Masai](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.travelure.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/NC-9-1024x683.jpg?resize=696%2C464&ssl=1\")
<\/a>Masai people walk in Ngorongoro – a peaceful coexistence<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAs I write, memories of the vivid vistas of Ngorongoro transport me back there. Plenty of wildlife in 890,440 hectares (8,904 sq. km.) reserve attracts over half a million visitors a year. Part of Serengeti ecosystem, about 180 km from Arusha (Tanzania) Ngorongoro is a UNESCO<\/a> World Heritage Site (inscribed in 1979). And is without a doubt our planet’s landmark!<\/p>\n\n\n\nPin it for future reading<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.travelure.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/NC-PIN-1-683x1024.png?resize=683%2C1024&ssl=1\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/li>![\"The](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.travelure.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/NC-PIN-2-683x1024.png?resize=683%2C1024&ssl=1\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/li>![\"The](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.travelure.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/NC-PIN-3-683x1024.png?resize=683%2C1024&ssl=1\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The sight took my breath away. Eight feet away, at my eye level, a lioness was enjoying the afternoon sun. She glanced at me, got bored, looked away, and stretched to catch a slumber… – Ngorongoro Crater Arusha Region Tanzania – Travelure \u00a9<\/p>\n
It was my first safari ride in Ngorongoro. We had been driving along the rim of a two-million-year-old caldera for a few minutes. I was not sure what this empty vastness had in store for me. After all, it was Ngorongoro. I could not see any animals. And I was getting restless. <\/p>\n\n\n\n ‘You\nsaid I’ll see many animals here. I haven’t yet seen any!’ I cribbed to Sam, my\nsafari driver-cum-guide. <\/p>\n\n\n\n ‘Shhhh\u2026\nlook to your left, over the embankment’, he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The\nsight took my breath away. Eight feet away, at my eye level, a lioness was\nenjoying the afternoon sun. She glanced at me, got bored, looked away, and\nstretched to catch a slumber.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That was the first of many encounters. Ngorongoro had started to unravel itself. <\/p>\n\n\n\n As we\nmade our way down from caldera rim to the world within, I saw a zeal of zebras\ngrazing. As we stopped by, they crossed the jeep track. Remembering the phrase\n‘zebra crossing’, I could not stop myself from smiling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A\nlittle further, I spotted a huge meandering bunch of wildebeest and zebras. It\nwas migration time. Sam said they hang together. Because zebras are good at\nfinding direction, and wildebeest suck at it. A perfect symbiotic relationship\nin nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Further\nup, we saw hordes of jeeps scurrying to a spot leaving dust clouds in their\nwake. Sam too sped to follow them. As we reached the spot, I had my first-ever\nglimpse of the fastest cat – cheetah! Seeing action, the lazing cat stretched\nand got up. It started its slow walk to nowhere. ‘Finished his meal,’ Sam told\nme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A few\nclicks later, we made our way to nowhere in particular. Like the crater\ncreatures, we were also on a prowl.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After\ngoing around for a while, we spotted a pride of lions. Actually, a few cubs.\nTheir parents nowhere in sight, these cubs were climbing over each other. It\nwas their little game. A heart warming sight!<\/p>\n\n\n\n As we\nwatched them, one cub decided to sidle up to a jeep behind ours. He rubbed\nhimself against the tyre. He was itchy. Cameras all around clicked away. A\nmoment captured. The cub too realised that. And walked away from the jeep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I saw hippos in the marshy stretches of the crater. Gazelles and ostriches all around. Langurs and wild dogs on some patches. And a rhino or two in the distance. But, there were no giraffes anywhere. The day rolled on and it was time to exit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Next\nmorning, I rode in through a different access to the reserve. At dawn, as the\nmorning mist swirled around, I saw Masai families working the fields inside the\ncrater. Sam explained local law permits Masais sustenance level farming in the\nconservation area. He also talked about peaceful coexistence of those tribesmen\nand animals. ‘They are used to each other,’ he said. Made me think our cities\nare wilder than this wildlife reserve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As I write, memories of the vivid vistas of Ngorongoro transport me back there. Plenty of wildlife in 890,440 hectares (8,904 sq. km.) reserve attracts over half a million visitors a year. Part of Serengeti ecosystem, about 180 km from Arusha (Tanzania) Ngorongoro is a UNESCO<\/a> World Heritage Site (inscribed in 1979). And is without a doubt our planet’s landmark!<\/p>\n\n\n\n The sight took my breath away. Eight feet away, at my eye level, a lioness was enjoying the afternoon sun. She glanced at me, got bored, looked away, and stretched to catch a slumber… – Ngorongoro Crater Arusha Region Tanzania – Travelure \u00a9<\/p>\n<\/a><\/a>More wildlife stuff? Click HERE<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/a>Cats and More<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/figure><\/li><\/a><\/figure><\/li><\/a><\/figure><\/li><\/a><\/figure><\/li><\/a><\/figure><\/li><\/a><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\nMan-Animal Conflict or Coexistence<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/a>Pin it for future reading<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure><\/li><\/a><\/figure><\/li><\/a><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"