First light on the crater floor

Look back up the wall after the descent. From the floor, the rim feels much farther away than it did from the lookout. The route opens out across grassland, then shifts again around the lake and the wooded stretches.

A good drive leaves time to stop. Watch how the zebras gather before crossing the road or give the birds at the water’s edge a few minutes. Take a warm layer for the descent and let your guide decide where to linger.