Embarking on an extended walking safari in the Ngorongoro Highlands offers our more active and adventurous visitors the chance to engage closely with the proud Maasai people, who inhabit this spectacular part of Tanzania. Our eight-day “Ngorongoro Highlands Adventure” tour is ideal for those whose perfect day starts and ends with camping under the African skies. Throughout the day, we trek from Bulati to the beautiful Empakaai, where breathtaking views of the crater lake and distant volcanoes await. Along the journey, we immerse ourselves in the rich culture of the Maasai, our most renowned tribespeople.
We begin our trip in Arusha, the safari capital, and travel to Ngorongoro to witness its stunning crater, taking a safari vehicle tour to observe a variety of wildlife. From there, we head to Bulati, which features its own crater and serves as the starting point for our walking safari. Our hike progresses to Empakaai and continues the next day to Acacia. Afterwards, our adventure involves a safari vehicle trip to visit the shimmering Lake Natron, a unique and captivating location.
Regardless of your arrival time at Kilimanjaro International Airport, your Easy Travel driver-guide will be ready to welcome you with a genuine smile. Sit back and unwind in the comfort of your vehicle as you embark on a scenic one-hour journey to your hotel in Arusha, proudly known as Tanzania’s ‘safari capital.’ Along the way, you’ll catch a glimpse of this vibrant and bustling city, setting the stage for your incredible adventure ahead. Depending on when you arrive, you might have the opportunity to attend your pre-safari briefing today; if not, rest assured it will be scheduled for the early morning tomorrow. Get ready for an unforgettable experience!
Tour Briefing
Unless your arrival time yesterday allowed time for your safari briefing, then this will take place after breakfast. We will provide you with all the essential information, before we set off on our journey to Ngorongoro, where we begin our adventure.
Journey: Arusha to Ngorongoro
Our journey time today is around 3-hour, covering nearly 206km. Along the route, your eyes will be opened to all the colours and character of Tanzania: perhaps some Maasai herdsmen driving their flocks of goats to new pastures. You’ll get to know your driver-guide, amazed at his depth of knowledge as he effortlessly answers all your questions.
Safari in Ngorongoro Crater
Our two game drives, either side of lunch, will open our eyes to this natural marvel. A fantastic highlight of any visit to Tanzania, we reach the rim of this iconic crater and then descend into the vast crater itself. At one side there’s the Lerai Forest, classic mountain forest landscape with almost tropical characteristics. This is good elephant country, so keep your eyes peeled. By the side of the nearby swampland is what is sometimes called the ‘elephant graveyard’ as the mighty male tuskers at the end of their lives come to chew on the soft, swampland grasses once their teeth have failed them.
The crater has a population of around 120 lions, with well-defined territories; 15,000 wildebeest, 9,000 zebra, 400 hyenas, and around 50 black rhino. Many wildebeest and other herd animals are resident, benefiting from the many sources of year-round waters and are boosted by some migrators in season. Buffalo, Thomson’s gazelle and eland are also present in numbers. Hippos can be found in pools and swampland and highlands birdlife is colourful and plentiful around the waters. Flamingos can often be seen in Lake Magadi, which occupies part of the crater floor.
Today, we have a short journey of 3-hours covering 57km by our safari vehicle to the start of our walk, which begins at Olmoti and continues to Bulati covering 16km, 5-hour walking time.
Day’s Highlight
The chance to get close to both the wildlife and the local people on our walk, as they tend their flocks – and realise that Ngorongoro is not the only volcanic crater around here!
Walk from Olmoti to Bulati
Olmoti Crater is admittedly much smaller than Ngorongoro, but it certainly provides a scenic backdrop for the start of today’s walk. The crater itself is shallow, a popular place for the local Maasai to graze their cattle. Listen for the gentle jangle of their bells! Unlike Ngorongoro, it is not full of herd animals, but you may come across some antelope. Look also to the skies and you may see an eagle or a buzzard as they ride the thermals. After admiring the crater, our hike will continue eastwards to reach Bulati in the afternoon. This is our destination for our overnight stay.
After breakfast, we continue our walking safari for 4-hour covering 9km and leave Bulati with the Empakaai Crater as our next enthralling destination. After lunch at the crater rim, we descend down to the lakeside.
Day’s Highlight
The view from the rim of Empakaai Crater, down to the crater lake with its population of flamingos, is justifiably regarded as one of the finest in Africa.
Walking Safari to visit Empakaai Crater
We set off from Bulati after breakfast, crossing Maasai territory to reach the crater rim at Empakaai. On the way, you will have plenty of time to learn about the Maasai and their way of life.
You may well encounter some of them along the route! You will marvel at the view from the rim of this crater, which has an 8-kilometer diameter and runs to a depth of over 540 meters. Look hard from the rim: you may identify the pink tinge of the thousands of flamingos, far below. As you descend to the lakeshore, these quirky birds may perform a series of take-offs and landings – that’s your afternoon entertainment! There are some mammals here, buffalo and blue monkeys may be seen and elephant and leopard though rarer are still present. After enjoying the tranquillity of this soda lake, it will be time to climb back up to the rim, back to the campsite for your overnight stay.
Today, we continue on our hike of 5 hours walking covering 13km, leaving Empakaai Campsite to continue to Acacia Campsite, on the second-last stage of our walking safari.
Highlight
Today, we continue on our hike of 5 hours walking covering 13km, leaving Empakaai Campsite to continue to Acacia Campsite, on the second-last stage of our walking safari.
Walking safari – continued
From Empakaai, our walking safari continues along a good path, reaching the Maasai village of Naiyobi where we will have lunch. After lunch, our trail leaves the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and the climate becomes noticeably warmer and drier.
Journey: Acacia – Lake Natron
After our morning walking safari of 3-hours covering 6km and arrival on the Rift Valley floor, we are collected by our safari vehicle for our journey to our accommodation in Lake Natron
Day’s Highlight
The final day of our walking safari this morning presents us with two options, depending on conditions and our continued appetite for further trekking in this fascinating region. We can choose a walk along the rift wall, or opt for a shorter, less strenuous hike. The towering volcano of Oldoinyo Lengai will be our constant companion today, an impressive backdrop for our trek. Our walking time is between 2 and 3 hours.
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Day’s Highlight
Perhaps a refreshing dip in the icy waters tumbling down from the escarpment wall will be today’s talking-point!
Lake Natron Walk
This morning, accompanied by a guide, we take the opportunity to walk along the lakeshore of Natron. To the north of this shallow lake lies Kenya, while away to the south is the brooding shape of Ol Doinyo Lengai, a still-active volcano. The heat here is hostile, but there’s still wildlife to be found! The highlight has to be the lesser flamingos, with their distinctive pinkish hue – caused, of course, by the pigment of the algae on which they feed. Other migrant water birds can be seen, mainly during the winter months. Nearby, you might catch sight of a zebra, gazelle or wildebeest, though the densities of large mammals cannot compete with the national parks.
Waterfall Walk
Only a short distance from Lake Natron itself, we follow a narrow gorge that carves its way through the escarpment wall, crossing and re-crossing the rushing stream that carries waters down into the valley. At times, we will have to wade across. Such is the incline that at times, waterfalls cascade down. Our reward comes after about 45 minutes, when we have the chance to cool off (and yes, it really is cold, despite the high air temperatures!) and swim in a pool beneath one of the falls. From above, we may be observed by a mountain goat or two, precariously perched on the seemingly inaccessible rocks! Delightful!
Rest in the hotel and transfer to the airport.
Note:Â Hotel check-out is at 10:00 AM. In case you need a late check-out before your evening flight, you have the option to extend your hotel stay for an extra fee. Let your manager know in advance if you need a late check-out.
Transfers
Accommodation & Meals
Guiding & Game-Driving
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Our team is always here to help
