Crater Lake #3: Spot the Giraffe!
This is the 3rd cache (so far!) in the Crater Lake series, the others being Crater Lake #1: Holey Wall! (GC3RCKA) and Crater Lake #2: Rim ViewPoint (GC3RBJC). It is hoped that with time other caches will be added along this wonderful 3.5km oval trail which skirts the rim of this crater occupies a total area of 87 hectares of which the lake takes up 14 hectares. There is also Crater Lake Earth Cache: Tuff Stuff (GC45NH7) located between caches #2 and #3.
This cache is hidden near one of the high points of the rim where the trail (heading clockwise) crosses a rocky plateau which looks straight down the sheer drop onto the crater forest some 90m below. It was from here that I spotted a group of giraffe feeding peacefully on the acacia trees some 90m directly below. It was a most unusual angle from which to view this activity - usually one is looking up at the giraffe feeding! I wonder if this group stays in the crater or migrates out from time to time? There would seem to be adequate food for them within the crater . . .
I had originally found a great hiding spot right under the edge of the cliff which was safe enough but would have been a bit scary for some. So I decided to hide it a little way down the slope away from the edge. To find the cache stand at the rusted pole (of two) furthest away from the lakeside camp with your back to the crater and head approximately 15m almost straight down the gentle slope. You will find the cache hidden under an obvious lichen-covered rock behind two stones.
With the limited time available, this is the furthest point I reached before having to head back . . . with the trail beckoning ahead, a further visit (or more) is obviously required!
Enjoy your time in this stunning location!
To reach the cache location:
Follow Moi South Lake Road to the end of the tar at Kongoni Village and continue approx. 4km along the dusty dirt road to S00 47.200 E036 15.158 where you turn right to enter the Crater Lake Game Sanctuary. After completing the brief entry formalities, proceed to the Camp parking area at S00 47.020 E036 15.497. Please refer to Crater Lake #1 cache for waypoints.
From here (close to the location of the Crater Lake #1: Holey Wall! cache) pick up the start of the rim trail and follow this up to and past the location of the Crater Lake #2: Rim ViewPoint cache. Continue upwards and onwards past the location of the Crater Lake Earth Cache: Tuff Stuff to ground zero just downslope from the high point of this part of the trail.
Alternative (will save you 200m walk in each direction): after completing activities at the Camp, drive from the parking area out of the Camp gate along the dirt road heading further north. After just over 200m turn right at the sign indicating View Point and proceed a short distance up the rough track to S00 46.937 E036 15.482 where you can park.
Walk further up the rocky track to S00 46.932 E036 15.512 then head left here up past the location of Crater Lake #2 cache to the crater rim and trail heading left (north) towards the cache location . Please refer to #2 cache for the alternative route waypoints.