Areas of Interest: Ngorongoro Crater, Ol Doinyo Lengai, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Lake Manyara National Park, Nainokanoka Masai Village, Empakaai Crater, Olmoti Crater, Lake Natron, Lake Magadi, Lake Manyara, Ngare Sero river, Ol Doinyo Lengai, Nayobi Village, Crater Highlands

Activities: Game Drive, Game and Bird Watching, Camping, Scenery, Culture, Ethnic, Photography, Exploring on Foot

The Crater Highlands consist of an elevated range of volcanoes and collapsed volcanoes, which rise from the side of the Great Rift Valley and run along the Eastern edge of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The peaks include Oldeani, Lemagrut, Olmoti, Loolmalasin, Empakaai, Ngorongoro and the active Ol Doinyo Lengai all with a number of impressive peaks, with steep escarpments, crater lakes, dense forests and grassy ridges, streams and waterfalls. The area is secluded and rarely visited but offers some of Tanzania’s most jagged and extraordinary scenery and some of the finest trekking. This is a reserve where the local communities live alongside the wildlife as it is home to many Masai people who have grazed cattle on the grasslands here for hundreds of years. Most walking is done at around the 3000mts mark though there are more routes available to the more adventurous.

Day 1 – Arusha town

Arrival at the airport then transfer to Arusha for dinner and overnight.

Day 2 – Arusha – Lake Manyara:

After breakfast, safari briefing then depart Arusha and to drive via Lake Manyara National Park for lunch and an afternoon game viewing. Afternoon drive heading to Karatu town for dinner and overnight.

Day 3 – Ngorongoro crater – Olmoti Crater

Departing after breakfast we drive up to Ngorongoro Conservation area with packed lunch, descend to the crater for half day crater tour after lunch ascend the crater heading to Nainokanoka Masai Village on the slopes of Olmoti mountain for dinner and overnight camping.

 Day 4 – Olmoti Crater full day

After breakfast pick-up a park ranger accompanied with local guide and start the ascent of Olmoti crater. Lunch  and afternoon at leisure or optional visit to a Masai village. Dinner and overnight at the camp site.

 Day 5 – Olmoti – Bullat village (5 -6 hours trek)

After breakfast we depart Nainokanoka village with packed lunch and follow Masai cattle trails north-east across the grass-lands of the Embulbul depression, towards Bullat village, arrive late afternoon for leisure, dinner and overnight at bullat village camping.

 Day 6 – Bullat village – Empakai Crater ( 4-5 hrs trek)

After breakfast we depart Bullat village trekking to Embakai crater reaching the lightly wooded crater on the rim on its southern edge, Lunch  and afternoon exploring the rim and the crater lake from the top. Dinner and overnight at the camp.

Day 7 – Empakaai Crater full day

After breakfast walk down the crater with your guide and park ranger, spend the half day viewing game, shore birds and exploring the floor of the crater. In the afternoon ascend the crater for lunch at the camp. Later in the afternoon take a walk along the rim to reach the low point on the western rim. The view from here down into the crater is stunning. Back before dusk for dinner and overnight at the camp site.

Day 8 – Empakaai – Nayobi village (Lerai Forest 4-5 hrs trek)

From the north or northeast side of the crater (Depending on your route) we follow tracks, which descend gradually to a village called Nayobi (meaning ‘spring’ in Maasai). Here we socialize with the locals and collect water. Dinner and overnight at Naiyobi Lerai forest camp site.

 Day 9 – Nayobi village – Lake Natron (Oldonyo lengai 5-6 hrs trek)

After breakfast carry your packed lunch then descend to the rift valley escarpment where it is steep goin down. This point is called “Mongole” it is maasai word meaning “antelope horns” The trail is so rough due to volcanic remain gravels, carry enough drinking water and step with care. The trek will end at the base of Mt. Oldonyo lengai (The Mountains of God) where you will meet the car for transferring you up to Lake Natron. Late afternoon walk to the waterfalls and back before dusk for dinner and overnight at the camp site on the shore of lake Natron.

 Day 10 – Lake Natron full day

After breakfast drive to the lake to see flamingos and shore birds, lunch at the camp, late afternoon exploring the other side of the lake and watching the sunset by sitting on the rocks along the lake. Dinner and overnight at the camp site.

 Day 11 – Lake Natron – Arusha Town

We depart for Arusha town after breakfast, picnic lunch en-route, arriving late afternoon, dinner and overnight Arusha.

 Day 12 – Arusha to the Airport

After breakfast explore Arusha town for shoppingi later transfer to the air port for your home flight or extension to Zanzibar for relaxation and recuperation.