Tanzania - Ngorongoro Highlands
This is a unique and active safari experience; a trekking safari provides a welcome break to sitting in a vehicle for days on end. While walking you have the opportunity to stalk wildlife, search for tracks, and mix with indigenous cultures. On our trekking safaris you will generally move camp everyday which requires a simpler, lighter weight camp. We have designed a special walking safari camp: On this walking trip we will use donkeys to transport the camp.
You will only need to carry your small daypack with water and personal gear for the day.
Day 1: Arrival Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
As you arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport you will be welcomed by one of our staffs, holding a sign with your name on it. From here you will transfer to Arusha and Arusha Safari Lodge for overnight.
Accommodation: Hotel in Arusha (budget/semi luxury/luxury)
Meal Plan: B&B
Day 2: Arusha National Park
We will relax today by taking a day trip to Arusha National Park for a game drive after breakfast. With the stunning view of Mt. Meru as a backdrop and unparalleled views of the majestic Mt. Kilimanjaro and the East African Rift Valley. This is your first safari experience with the lush vegetation, mammal species and countless birds of an ecosystem. The highland forests around the Ngurdoto crater as well as the slopes of Mt. Meru harbor the rare Black and White Colobus monkey. Arusha National Park is also reputed to have the highest density of giraffes in Africa. In the early evening we will return to the lodge for dinner and get some good sleep for our walking Safari the next day.
Accommodation: Camping
Meal Plan: FB
Day 3: Transfer to Ngorongoro and Nainokanoka
Leave early in the morning and start driving to Ngorongoro Conservation Area. We will stop at Ngorongoro Conservation Area park gate for registration and pick up an armed Park Ranger. After registrations we will start driving through the Ngorongoro Highlands to Nainokanoka. We will stop for lunch and after lunch we will transfer everything from to the truck to donkeys. We will be using donkeys as porters to carry everything. We will hike through the nearby Olmoti Crater, a critical watershed and underground reservoir, slowly releasing water throughout the year for the livestock and wildlife of Ngorongoro Crater. We walk onto our wilderness camp on the volcano's northern
flank, which offers unparalleled views of the Serengeti's eastern plains and distant Gol Mountains. Our overnight camp will be at Olmoti Crater Rim.
Accommodation: Camping
Meal Plan: FB
Day 4: Embulbul Depression
Today we hike around the flank of Olmoti Mountain among the herds of Maasai cattle, sheep and goats. The focus of the day is a visit to one of these highland dwellings where we will see daily life close-up. In the afternoon we will make our way across the wide expanse of the "Embulbul Depression," a retreat for wildlife from the Ngorongoro Crater. Our hike continues into the second wilderness camp situated on the knife-edge rim of the hidden gem of the highlands, Empakaai Crater. This extinct caldera is one of the best-kept secrets of the area with spectacular Rift Valley views from its rim. Its thickly forested sides, and the sparkling lake covering half of its floor is full of flamingos and lurking predators.
Accommodation: Camping
Meal Plan: FB
Day 5: Empakaai Crater
A full exploration of Empakaai Crater will take up the whole day. In the morning we will hike down the steep forested slopes of the caldera, hopefully catching glimpses of rarely seen forest animals such as bushbuck, duikers and even leopards. Around the lakeshore we will find many species of water birds, and an abundance of flamingos. Up to four million of flamingos roam the Rift Valley lakes in great flocks throughout the year searching for the best feeding and bathing conditions. Our day will end with an ascent back to the same camp on the crater rim.
Accommodation: Camping
Meal Plan: FB
Day 6: Nayobi/Pembe Ya Swala
We will descend from the Ngorongoro Highlands to the Great Rift Valley. We will descend through lush grassland pastures scattered with Maasai villages. The scenery alternates between the mountains of Gelai and Ketembeni - both extinct volcanoes - and Lake Natron stretching into the distance. The active volcano Oldonyo Lengai, "Mountain of Gods", dominates the view. Our overnight camp will be in Nayobi with dinner around the camp fire in traditional African style.
Accommodation: Camping
Meal Plan: FB
Day 7: Engare Sero/Oldoinyo Lengai
Continue hiking down into the Rift Valley - by now Ol'donyo Lengai is towering above us. Cross the old lava flows and hike towards camp set by a stream at the base of the escarpment. Some options on this day's hike. We can opt to hike up to the waterfalls above the camp for a relaxing swim or to
watch the baboons leaping back and forth on the cliffs or we can climb Ol'donyo Lengai. This is a steep 5000-ft climb and involves leaving at 2:00am in order to reach the rim by dawn; the rewards of seeing the sun rise over the Great Rift Valley are incredible. Our overnight camp is on the river under the vast African skies, watching the flamingoes pass overhead on the way back to nesting sites in the middle of Lake Natron.
Accommodation: Camping
Meal Plan: FB
Day 8: Lake Natron
We will hike across the Great Rift Valley Ridge and make our way to Lake Natron a breeding place for all the Flamingos in East Africa. Flamingos breed in the small island in the middle of Lake Natron which has very high concentration of sodium that no any animal can cross the lake to prey on Flamingos eggs or chicks. From Lake Natron we will make our way to the border of Serengeti where we will picked up and transported back to Arusha.
Accommodation: Hotel in Arusha (budget/semi luxury/luxury)
Meal Plan: HB
Day 9: Arusha town
Today you can have a long well deserved sleep in. Wake up for a late breakfast at the hotel. Spend the rest of the day relaxing in Arusha, or visit nearby museums and markets. You will transfer to Shanga project and Riverside Restaurant for a beautiful garden lunch. In the afternoon transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport for flight back home.
Accommodation: None
Meal Plan: B&B
