The 5-days trekking Safari takes you through the miscellaneous landscapes of the Ngorongoro Crater Highlands. You will enjoy adventure hike through grassy plains and the mountainous countryside as well as thick mountain forest and the savannah landscape of the Rift Valley. Not only unique landscapes and wild animal’s sight, this trek gives insight into the daily routine of the Maasai people.
Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) (Google Map)
Arusha Airport (ARK) (Google Map)
2 Hours Before Flight Time
Early in the morning you will be picked up from the hotel and you will travel to the village of Mto wa Mbu with the escarpment of the Great Rift Valley towering up ahead. From a standpoint above the town you will see the Maasai plains stretch to the horizon with the alkaline Lake Manyara down beneath. A short drive further and you will reach the gate of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The Safari continues along the scenic crater road, to the Maasai village of Nainokanoka. While the camp is being set up at an altitude of 2,650m, you will have time to hike to the rim of the Olmoti Crater during the afternoon. There is also a possibility to visit a small waterfall along the way. Dinner will be served at the camp. It might be cold depending on time of the year.
Lunch; Dinner
Next day early in the morning a Maasai guide will arrive with his donkeys. After breakfast and loading the donkeys, the journey begins and you will pass through many traditional Maasai bomas and cattle herds. Soon, you might also see wild animals such as Grant’s, and Thompson gazelles, Wildebeests with hungry jackals not far behind and majestic eagles observing the situation. You will reach a campsite not far from the Masai village Bulati after approximately 16 km of hiking
Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner
After breakfast, the journey continous up a hill from where you have a last panoramic view of the grass plains below. The trek takes you up and down through the bushy scenery which finally opens up to the active volcano, Oldonyo Lengai. The trek grants you great views of the majestic volcano as well as into the inspiring Empakai Crater before reaching the campsite for the night. You can explore the crater and descend to Lake Empakai inside the crater on a well-maintained path. This alkaline soda lake is an important food source for flamingos, which can be seen throughout the year. Returning to camp dinner will be waiting for you. During the night you might hear the flamingos call as they fly back to their breeding nests at Lake Manyara and Lake Natron.
Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner
This is the day to hike towards the Naiyobi Maasai village. Following a good path, the village as well as Oldonyo Lengai, an active volcano, can be sight from a distance. Lunch will be at Naiyobi, followed by the trek leaving the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and the landscape becomes drier and warmer. Tonight’s camp will be set up at amongst an acacia forest.
Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner
Today marks the last stage of our Safari which is not too long and goes mostly downhill. The things to see via the trek are the great views of Oldonyo Lengai, Lake Natron and the Rift Valley. The rough countryside looks almost strange enclosed by grey ash of the last eruption in 2007. The trek descends down into the dry and hot Rift Valley, where the ash can be seen up close. Around lunchtime you will reach the waiting vehicle and your driver will be ready to take you back to Arusha.
Breakfast
