8-Day Ngrorongoro Crater & Ngorongoro Highlands Trekking

• You'll be collected from the airport.
• Accommodation before the tour starts can be arranged for an extra cost.

Arrival - A warm welcome to Tanzania

Your private guide from Safari Nuggets will be waiting with a welcoming smile to pick you up at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO). Relax in your comfortable safari vehicle as he brings you to your hotel in Arusha for an overnight stay. You may have your pre-safari briefing today, if not it will take place early tomorrow morning depending on your arrival time.

Main Destination:

Arusha (City)

Accommodation:

Kili Seasons

• Luxury hotel located near Arusha (City)

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Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Arusha to Ngorongoro Crater

This morning you will depart from your hotel and travel to Ngorongoro Conservation Area, enjoying a game drive in the crater. Afterwards ascend and drive to your camp. Settle into your first campsite and prepare for your first trek in the morning. Overnight Nainokanoka Village (no showers & limited toilet facilities).

Main Destination:

Ngorongoro Crater

Best Time To Visit June to October (Wildlife viewing is best)

High Season Most of the year – July to March (Expect crowds)

Best Weather June to October (Rainfall is little to none)

Wildlife in Ngorongoro Crater

Black RhinoCommon

LionCommon

BuffaloAbundant

ZebraAbundant

WildebeestAbundant

HyenaAbundant

Show more

ElephantCommon

HippoCommon

LeopardOccasional

GiraffeNone

White RhinoNone

CheetahNone

Wild DogNone

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• Outside Ngorongoro Crater

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Nainokanoka to Bulati

Today morning you will leave Nainokanoka with your guides, cooks and donkeys for a day of hiking to Bulati Village. Wild animals can be seen, such as Thompson and Grants gazelle, zebras and wildebeest. Where there are many animals, hungry jackals are not far away and high in the sky majestic eagles watch their every move. Approximate trekking time of 5 hours, covering 16kms. Tonight, you will sleep at an elevation of 2,650m. Overnight Bulati Village (no showers & limited toilet facilities).

Main Destination:

Bulati (Village)

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Bulati to Empakaai

Today morning you will start your to trek to Empakaai. The walk offers spectacular views of both recent and ancient volcanic mountains, including Kilimanjaro, Meru, Olmoti Crater, and Lolmasin. The Empakaai Crater is 300m deep with almost half the floor covered by a soda lake. Bushbuck, buffalo, and blue monkey can be seen on the rim, which on a clear day boasts amazing views to Ol Doinyo Lengai, Mount Kilimanjaro, and Lake Natron. During the night you may hear flamingo calls as they return to their breeding ground at Lake Manyara and Lake Natron. Approximate trekking time 4-5 hours covering a distance of 9kms. Tonight, you will sleep at an elevation of 3,100m. Overnight Empakaai Crater Rim (no showers & limited toilet facilities).

Main Destination:

Empakaai Crater (Ngorongoro Highlands)

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Empakaai to Acacia Camp

Today morning you will descend into the Empakaai crater. A well-maintained track goes to the crater floor. The alkaline/soda lake found there is an important source of food for flamingos, which can be seen throughout the year. The crater floor is also home to a variety of antelope and aquatic birds. Return to the crater rim, where the trek will begin to move away from the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and the landscape becomes drier and warmer, as we head towards Acacia Camp. Approximate trekking time 5 hours over a distance of 13kms. Sleep at an elevation of 3,200m. Overnight Acacia Camp (no showers & limited toilet facilities).

Main Destination:

Ngorongoro Highlands

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• Outside Ngorongoro Highlands

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Acacia Camp to Kamakia Camp

The last stage of the journey is not too long and travels mainly downhill. The highlights of the morning are the fantastic views of Ol Doinyo Lengai, Lake Natron, and the Rift Valley. A big part of the rugged countryside is covered by ash from the last eruption in 2007, which adds to the surreal nature of the landscape. The trek descends deep into the dry and hot Rift Valley, where the dried-out ashes can be viewed up close. Just before lunch you will reach the waiting vehicles and transfer the short distance to the foot of Mount Ol Doinyo Lengai, which is the only active carbonate volcano in the world. Settle into camp for a few hours’ sleep, before the optional activity of climbing the volcano tonight. Approximate trekking time 5 hours, covering 6kms. Sleeping elevation 2,600m. In the late afternoon, you will have the opportunity to hike to the beautiful waterfalls around the area. Overnight Kamakia Camp (good shower and toilet facilities tonight).

Main Destination:

Ngorongoro Highlands

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• Outside Ngorongoro Highlands

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Ol Doinyo Lengai Volcano - Night Hike

Shortly after midnight, you start climbing Ol Doinyo Lengai, the Maasai’s Mountain of God. This ascent requires good levels of fitness, as the track to the top is very steep, climbing in altitude from 800m to 3000m. The ascent can take anything from 8-14 hours with no shade, hence an early start. Return to camp around 11:00 is for brunch. Once back at camp, you have an afternoon to sleep and recover from your climb. Approximate trekking time 8 to 14 hours covering a distance of 15kms. Sleeping elevation tonight will be 2,600m. Overnight Kamakia Camp (good shower and toilet facilities tonight).

Main Destination:

Ol Doinyo Lengai

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Lake Natron to Arusha

Lake Natron is uniquely outstanding for bird watching. You can walk from your camp or from the road out on the mudflats to the edge of the water. In the dry season, this may be a half-mile walk. Flamingos breed here August-October, creating a birding spectacle that rivals almost any, anywhere in the world. However, there will be some flamingos around all year. Endemic desert birds provide a wonderful bonus for the avid birdwatcher. Later you start driving back to Arusha, which will take the majority of the day.

Main Destination:

Lake Natron

Accommodation:

No accommodation (End of tour)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast & lunch (Dinner not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

• Additional accommodation can be arranged for an extra cost.
• You'll be dropped off at the airport.