Ngorongoro Highland Trekking

Getting out in the Ngorongoro Highlands on an extended walking safari will take our more active and adventurous visitors into close contact with our proud Maasai people, herdsmen who inhabit this spectacular part of Tanzania. Our eight days ‘Ngorongoro Highlands Adventure’ tour is definitely the choice for those whose perfect day begins and ends in a campsite under African skies, In between, our daytime trek takes us first from Bulati to beautiful Empakaai, with its stunning views down over its crater lake and to the mighty volcanoes beyond. And all the time, we soak up the culture of the Maasai, our most famous tribespeople.

We start our trip in Arusha, our safari capital, to arrive at Ngorongoro with its spectacular crater, descending to enjoy a vehicle safari and with plenty of animals to observe. From there, we travel to Bulati which can boast its own crater and which is the start of our walking safari. Our hike continues to Empakaai and the following day to Acacia. From there, our adventure takes us by safari vehicle to visit the unique location of shimmering Lake Natron.

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Day 1: Arrival Day

Welcome to Tanzania

Whatever your arrival time at Kilimanjaro International Airport, your Ndovu Adventures driver-guide will be waiting for you with a warm welcoming smile. Kick back and relax in your comfortable vehicle as he takes you to your hotel in Arusha, Tanzania’s self-styled ‘safari capital.’ On your one-hour journey to the hotel in Arusha, you will get a brief impression of this large, bustling, commercial city. Depending on your arrival time, you may have your pre-safari briefing today; if not, it will take place early tomorrow morning.

Meal Plan: Dinner at your hotel in Arusha.

Day 2: Arusha – Ngorongoro

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 hours, 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.

Day’s Highlight

Like nothing else on Earth, the stunning crater of Ngorongoro is a unique home for many, many species of Tanzania’s wildlife. With some luck, you may even see a black rhino here.

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. On one side there’s the Lerai Forest, a 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 rhinos. 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.

Imagine tall trees, clear starry skies, and the sounds of animals shuffling nearby at night time. Here, you can sit by your tent and marvel at the surroundings or chat with your companions in one of the communal spaces provided at this public campsite. Washing and toilet facilities are basic here and as these are shared facilities, the cleanliness can suffer a bit when the campsite is busy. Guests dine together in a common dining area. Most important of all, don’t forget that the site is located at an altitude of 2300 metres (7546 feet). It can be very cold at night, so warm clothes are absolutely essential here!

Meal Plan Breakfast is enjoyed at your hotel in Arusha. Lunch will be a nutritious and balanced meal, also provided by the hotel for you to take out on safari. Your dinner will be a full, cooked meal provided by our safari chef at the Ngorongoro Simba Campsite.

Day 3: Ngorongoro – Olmoti – Bulati

Today, we have a short journey of 3 hours covering 57 km 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!

The 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.

Accommodation

Bulati Public Campsite is super-basic, ideal for the adventurous nature of this trip! Here, you will not find permanent toilet or shower facilities, as this is real do-it-yourself camping. But for you, there are no worries, as your Ndovu Adventures staff will erect your tent and provide the mobile toilet for your use. (And they’ll clean it regularly, too!) Nor are there any permanent cooking facilities, but, again, your Ndovu Adventures staff will be equipped with the necessary utensils to prepare your meal.

Fall asleep under a star-filled African sky, before waking to continue your safari adventure.

Meal Plan Breakfast is enjoyed at Ngorongoro. Lunch will be a nutritious and balanced meal, also provided by our safari chef for you to enjoy while on today’s hike. Your dinner will be a full, cooked meal provided by our safari chef at the Bulati Public Campsite.

Day 5: Empakaai – Acacia

Today, we continue on our hike of 5 hours of 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.

Accommodation

The Acacia Public Campsite is super-basic! Here, you will not find permanent toilet or shower facilities, as this is real do-it-yourself camping. But for you, there are no worries, as your Nduvu Adventures staff will erect your tent and provide the mobile toilet for your use. Nor are there any permanent cooking facilities, but, again, your Ndovu Adventures staff will be equipped with the necessary utensils to prepare your meal.

Fall asleep again, out in the wilderness, and enjoy this further night of adventure.

Meal Plan Breakfast is enjoyed at Empakaai Public Campsite. Lunch will be a nutritious and balanced meal, also provided by our safari chef for you to enjoy while on today’s hike. Your dinner will be a full, cooked meal provided by our safari chef at the Acacia Public Campsite.

Day 6: Acacia- Lake Natron

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.

Accommodation

The Lake Natron Public Campsite has only basic facilities but is set in a spectacular setting with views of the Great Rift Valley Escarpment and the surrounding mountains.

Meal Plan Breakfast is enjoyed at Acacia Public Campsite. Lunch will be a nutritious and balanced meal, also provided by our safari chef for you to enjoy while on today’s hike. Your dinner will be a full, cooked meal provided by our safari chef at the Lake Natron Public Campsite.

Day 7: Lake Natron

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!

After today’s activities, you will be taken back to the Lake Natron Public Campsite for your second night’s stay.

Meal Plan Breakfast is enjoyed at Lake Natron Public Campsite. Lunch will be a cooked lunch, to be enjoyed at Lake Natron Public Campsite, after visiting the lake. Your dinner will be a full, cooked meal provided by our safari chef at the Lake Natron Public Campsite.

Day 8: Lake Natron – Kilimanjaro International Airport

Journey: Lake Natron – Kilimanjaro International Airport
After breakfast, we begin the 6-hour (305km) journey back to Kilimanjaro International Airport, stopping for lunch on the way.

Day’s Highlight: We follow the line of the Great Rift Valley on our return journey, guaranteeing you some last-minute photo opportunities of this stunning landscape.

Meal Plan Breakfast: is served at Lake Natron Public Campsite. Lunch will be a nutritious and balanced meal, also provided by our safari chef for you to enjoy on your way to the Airport. As today is your departure day, please note that dinner tonight is not included in the tour.

Departure Instructions

Please note that this Ngorongoro Highlands Trekking Adventure – 8 Days tour ends at Kilimanjaro International Airport at 17.30 hours. Your departure can only take place today if you have pre-booked a domestic flight which leaves from Kilimanjaro International Airport at 19.40 hours or after, or an international flight which leaves at 21.00 hours or after. Otherwise, you will need to book an extra night’s accommodation (not included in the tour price) and take a flight the following day.

Post Tour Extension

After your exhilarating time on safari, you may want to extend your Tanzanian holiday with time on Zanzibar’s wonderful beaches. Please contact us for details.

Important Trip Notes

As the campsites have no permanent toilets, guests will make use of the mobile toilets provided
Apart from Lake Natron, the campsites on this trip do not have shower facilities
As this trip involves several hours of walking on several days, a good level of fitness is required

INCLUDED

Accommodation according to the itinerary
Transportation in a 4×4 safari vehicle
Professional, English-speaking guide
Professional, English-speaking safari cook
Overnight stays in safari tents
Camping equipment (tents, sleeping mats, chairs, tables etc.)
Meals according to the itinerary
Mineral water
All mentioned activities
All national park fees

EXCLUDED

Sleeping bag
Flights
Optional activities
Alcoholic and soft drinks
Visa fees
Tips
Personal spending money for souvenirs etc.
Travel insurance