Discoveries…Africa—Tanzania: Ngorongoro Crater & Conservation Area

The latest entry in Jim and Kelly Watt's high-def filmed Discoveries…Africa—Tanzania series, Ngorongoro Crater & Conservation Area focuses on the ecosystem of the titular World Heritage site—100 square miles often referred to as “the Eden of Africa.” Viewers travel along with knowledgeable guide Stanford Milinga on a journey featuring abundant wildlife footage of cheetahs relaxing (and chasing gazelles), ostriches, zebras, hippos (which, believe it or not, can run 30 mph), storks (standing up to four-feet tall), digging warthogs, a tree-sleeping lion, and birds such as the spotted Cory Bustard and the vibrantly-plumed Gray-headed Kingfisher. Milinga visits a Maasai Tribal village (called a “boma”) to offer an insider's look at various aspects of community life and culture, from clothing and jewelry, to dancing, schooling, and animal husbandry (we also are given a peek inside a hut made from sticks, ash, and cow dung). Other sights include the town of Arusha, with its Malaika Children's Home for orphans, and a trip to the Olduvai Gorge in the southern Serengeti. A fine addition to a beautifully filmed and informative armchair traveler series, this is recommended. Aud: P. (J. Williams-Wood)