The Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area is the home of over 30.000 animals, protected by the steep walls of the crater.

The crater has a spectacular concentration of wildlife with herds of buffalos, zebras, lions and wildebeest in the open grasslands, flamingos and hippos around and inside the lakes and elephants in the forest zone. One of the greatest experiences is to spot one of the rare black rhinos.

From the crater rim, around 600 m above the crater floor you will have a fantastic view over the complete crater with a shallow soda lake in its centre.
Here at the crater rim the walking safari starts through the nice landscape up to the Oldonyo Lengai as an unforgettable experience in Tanzania.

The Ngorongoro Crater Highland

Your trekking in the Crater highlands area can be done for several days, and we will be restricted. The Crater highlands is a range of extinct volcanoes that rise steeply from the side of the Great Rift Valley in the Northern Tanzania. The crater Highland ranger is roundly oval in shape measuring about 80 km by 40 km and is pinched at one end.

The range rises steeply from the surrounding plains at about 1.500 metres to heights of between 2.500 metres and 3.500 meters. Highland area is volcanic in origin, although the different peaks were created over many millions of years by series of eruptions connected with the formation of three Great Rift Valley. The older volcanoes have been eroded and most have collapsed to form crater (more correctly known as calderas). At the southern end of the Crater highlands are the oldest volcanoes, Oldeani and Lemagrut, with both summits at round 3.050 metres.

To the north of Ngorongoro crater is the main part of the highlands, where the trekking can be done. Only a few km away, the mountain of Olmoti rises to 100 metres on its western side, with a flat-stopped (plateau); which can early be seen from the Ngorongoro. This mountain also has a small crater.

To the east of Olmoti is Loolmasin, the highest peak on the range, at 3.645 meters, with its eastern side dropping steeply down to the plains near Engaruka. North of these 2 peaks is Empakaai (Embagai), with steep circular crates, half-filled by a lake. In between the peaks of Olmoti, Loolmaalasin and Empakaai, the ground deeps to from large Embulmbul Depression.

At the northern end of the range is Kerimasi, one of the more recent volcanoes, rising up to 2.300 meters. Beyond this lies the lasted volcano of the Crater Highlands to be formed and still active. The last big eruption was in the mid-1960's and the top of the mountain today you can see hot steam vents and growing ash -cones, it's mountain Ol Doinyo Lengai with both summit at around 2.960 metres.

7-days 'Breath Taking Route'

The Crater Highland trip is a walking safari with hiking tours around 5-6 hours per day, with overnight stays in tents on campsites. Donkeys will carry our baggage. It's the perfect chance to enjoy nature on your own feet.

Day 1
We will pick you up from the Kilimanjaro Airport and transfer you to Arusha. It will take almost 1 hour to drive. Dinner and accomodation will be in the lodge in Arusha. We will give you all informations about your holiday trough your driver and guide there.

Day 2
After our breakfast we will leave Arusha in the early morning to drive to Ngorongoro Crater. We descend into the crater for the morning game drive. Later we return to the crater rim and drive to Nainokanoka Maasai village with picnic lunch en route. At the crater rim we can discover hundreds of species of birds. We change our transport means and proceed our tour by foot. Donkeys will carry our baggage. We reach Bulati Village to visit Olmoti Crater and waterfalls passing Embulmbul depression. Olmoti Crater is a shallow grassy crater and is the source of the Munge river, which flows through a notch in the crater rim in a spectacular waterfall on its way to Ngorongoro Crater. Dinner and overnight stay at Bulati campsite.

Day 3
After breakfast we hike to Empakai Crater and descend into the crater. In this nice crater you can discover flamingos and other animals, a forest and a deep lake From here you can enjoy a nice view on Oldonyo Lengai, Great Rift Valley and Lake Natron. Dinner and overnight stay on Empakai Crater rim.

Day 4
After breakfast we descend into the crater to the lake. At the lake shore we can see birds and other animals. Our track follows a gradual descent to Naiyobi village, which means "spring" or "bubbling water". Here we can meat the local people who live from agriculture. Dinner and overnight stay at Lerai campsite.

Day 5
After breakfast we start early to hike through Emouro Engoilil (Pembe ya Swala) to the bottom of Oldonyo Lengai. We follow the way through beautiful grass hills along a ridge running parallel to Great Rift Valley. Oldonyo Lengai mountain with its 3.450 m altitude is an active volcano in the south of Lake Natron. We start to climb in the late evening. The path is quite difficult underfoot and steep the whole way. At the rim it turns into powdery ash and feels like walking through deep soft snow. We reach the summit for sunrise. This volcano is active and glowing rock can often be seen bubbling out of the numerous ash cones on the top. Whether we can stay overnight at the summit depends on the weather.

Day 6
Today we descend to the foot of the mountain for the transfer to Ngaresero river which flows north from the crater highlands into Lake Natron. Here you can swim for refreshing. Dinner and overnight stay in the campsite.

Day 7
After breakfast we drive to Lake Natron to view the sunrise and the flamingos. After a small walk at the lake we depart for Arusha. On the way we will visit the Engaruka village to see the ruins. We reach Arusha in the late afternoon. In the evening we transfer you to the airport / start the safari program.

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