Simon Mattacks

It's a sound that stays with you once the bird has long gone and you've traveled past hills and across plains and valleys. You feel your guide's pace slowing as you approach your destination. It's a place called Ngorongoro. Tembo explains that it's a conservation area where animals are safe and protected.

They live on the site of a crater or caldera, the remains of a volcano, which are two million years old. The crater looks like a bowl in the earth. with a base of bright green grass. The land around the site is very rich and fertile, as the nutrients in the soil produce vibrant colors. Just as eye-catching are the animals on the lake. You see zebra, rhinos, and pink flamingos.

They live on the site of a crater or caldera, the remains of a volcano, which are two million years old. The crater looks like a bowl in the earth. with a base of bright green grass. The land around the site is very rich and fertile, as the nutrients in the soil produce vibrant colors. Just as eye-catching are the animals on the lake. You see zebra, rhinos, and pink flamingos.

They live on the site of a crater or caldera, the remains of a volcano, which are two million years old. The crater looks like a bowl in the earth. with a base of bright green grass. The land around the site is very rich and fertile, as the nutrients in the soil produce vibrant colors. Just as eye-catching are the animals on the lake. You see zebra, rhinos, and pink flamingos.

The birds are grouped in a pool of shallow water in a lake formed within the basin. As he guides you down the slope of the crater, Tembo explains that the water is very salty. Eventually, you're standing at the base of the bowl, at the side of the lake where the flamingos have gathered. Most are standing on long, spindly legs with their fluffy pink bodies out of the water.

The birds are grouped in a pool of shallow water in a lake formed within the basin. As he guides you down the slope of the crater, Tembo explains that the water is very salty. Eventually, you're standing at the base of the bowl, at the side of the lake where the flamingos have gathered. Most are standing on long, spindly legs with their fluffy pink bodies out of the water.

The birds are grouped in a pool of shallow water in a lake formed within the basin. As he guides you down the slope of the crater, Tembo explains that the water is very salty. Eventually, you're standing at the base of the bowl, at the side of the lake where the flamingos have gathered. Most are standing on long, spindly legs with their fluffy pink bodies out of the water.

A few can be seen swimming on the lake, in patches where the water is deep enough to do so. They glide with the elegance and style of swans. Like the migrating herd of wildebeest, there are too many flamingos to count. For all you know, there could be hundreds or even thousands. The reflection in the lake mirrors the flamingos and doubles their numbers.

A few can be seen swimming on the lake, in patches where the water is deep enough to do so. They glide with the elegance and style of swans. Like the migrating herd of wildebeest, there are too many flamingos to count. For all you know, there could be hundreds or even thousands. The reflection in the lake mirrors the flamingos and doubles their numbers.

A few can be seen swimming on the lake, in patches where the water is deep enough to do so. They glide with the elegance and style of swans. Like the migrating herd of wildebeest, there are too many flamingos to count. For all you know, there could be hundreds or even thousands. The reflection in the lake mirrors the flamingos and doubles their numbers.

You study these birds as you might a piece of artwork, taking in the hues and details. Until your interest is piqued by the hum of an engine, and the sight of a vehicle passing by at the top of the crater. The woman driving wears a sand-colored uniform. She stops the car and calls out in greeting. The elephant explains that she's a tour guide named Anissa, and another one of his many friends.

You study these birds as you might a piece of artwork, taking in the hues and details. Until your interest is piqued by the hum of an engine, and the sight of a vehicle passing by at the top of the crater. The woman driving wears a sand-colored uniform. She stops the car and calls out in greeting. The elephant explains that she's a tour guide named Anissa, and another one of his many friends.

You study these birds as you might a piece of artwork, taking in the hues and details. Until your interest is piqued by the hum of an engine, and the sight of a vehicle passing by at the top of the crater. The woman driving wears a sand-colored uniform. She stops the car and calls out in greeting. The elephant explains that she's a tour guide named Anissa, and another one of his many friends.

It looks to you as if she's currently working, Tourists gape awestruck from the back of her car, admiring the flamingos. Tembo uses his trunk like an arm, waving in greeting to Anissa in the jeep. The people on her tour pause for a minute to take a few pictures of the birds before Anissa drives on, continuing their safari. The crater is your second to last stop.

It looks to you as if she's currently working, Tourists gape awestruck from the back of her car, admiring the flamingos. Tembo uses his trunk like an arm, waving in greeting to Anissa in the jeep. The people on her tour pause for a minute to take a few pictures of the birds before Anissa drives on, continuing their safari. The crater is your second to last stop.

It looks to you as if she's currently working, Tourists gape awestruck from the back of her car, admiring the flamingos. Tembo uses his trunk like an arm, waving in greeting to Anissa in the jeep. The people on her tour pause for a minute to take a few pictures of the birds before Anissa drives on, continuing their safari. The crater is your second to last stop.

You're still some distance from your final destination, and it's a few more hours before you and the elephant find a spot to rest. But when you do, your second night is spent on a lush, grassy hillock, leaning once again beside the sleeping elephant. The animal makes for a warm and cozy pillow. Perhaps it's because of this that your nights are so untroubled.

You're still some distance from your final destination, and it's a few more hours before you and the elephant find a spot to rest. But when you do, your second night is spent on a lush, grassy hillock, leaning once again beside the sleeping elephant. The animal makes for a warm and cozy pillow. Perhaps it's because of this that your nights are so untroubled.

You're still some distance from your final destination, and it's a few more hours before you and the elephant find a spot to rest. But when you do, your second night is spent on a lush, grassy hillock, leaning once again beside the sleeping elephant. The animal makes for a warm and cozy pillow. Perhaps it's because of this that your nights are so untroubled.

You sleep right through without waking even once. The nighttime in Tanzania is so blissful and peaceful. There's a deeper kind of quiet out here in nature. Both you and the elephant wake up refreshed and eager to reach your final destination. It's late afternoon by the time you get there. The famous hot springs of Kikuletwa. The springs remind you of an oasis in a desert.