Monday 11 December 2017. Photos – Tanzania (general) and Ngorongoro Crater.
Highlights: Snake Park Centre, Arusha Culture Museum

Today we had time for activities in Arusha before the Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti Excursion left at 1 pm later today. First up after breakfast was a visit to the Arusha Mall in order to purchase supplies for the next few days on the road. This allowed for a short visit to the Arusha Culture Museum which had some impressive indigenous artwork from sculptures to paintings to bracelets. Expensive items but still very impressed items.

On returning to camp went and visit the camp curio shop and later with Arran visited the Snake Park Centre to see all the killer snakes they have in the area. The campsite was originally a centre for treating snake bits that is now a viewing centre and campsite. Some of these killer snakes were extremely hard to find in their displays. If I didn’t know they were there I wouldn’t have found them, makes me worry about them in the wild.

For the three day excursion we were taking two 4WD vehicles, in my 4WD I had Rod, Arran, Logan, Emilie, Maggie and new traveller Tera. Our guide was ‘Jungle Master’ who always had facts to tell us about. Luckily for me I was given the first row behind the driver which has extra room and access to a charging board for devices. I recheck my items and I left behind my power plugs not expecting this but the power battery pack should see me though for the three days.

It took us about 3.5 hours to get to our campsite just outside the Ngorongoro Crater. The campsite is close by so we can get into the Conservatory near day break to see the animals active in the morning. For the next few nights I have a new tent partner in Bill who is a great older American from Tennessee with great insights into life which he shared over a Serengeti beer before we turned in.