5 Days Ngorongoro Crater Highlands & Lake Natron Trek

A 5-day trek to the highlands of the Ngorongoro crater and Lake natron will have you exploring the varied landscapes of the Ngorongoro Crater Highlands. You’ll trek across boundless plains, woodland greenery, and the highlands’ steep landscape. While walking through their communities, get a firsthand look at Maasai life. Plus, see the Great Rift Valley’s magnificent savannah scenery.
This five days Ngorongoro Highlands hike and Lake Natron trek is the essence of stepping off the beaten path, taking you on foot through the volcanic landscapes of northern Tanzania, seeing locations that are just not accessible by car.

Discover the interesting lifestyles of the Maasai between Ngorongoro and Lake Natron with Maasai guides who will teach you about their culture and customs. The walk continues along the Rift Valley wall to Lake Natron, with excellent views of Ol Doinyo Lengai ahead.

Tour Highlights:

Experience Cultural immersion as you interact with the Maasai.
Learn the Maasai way of life and some Maa language
Experience the scenic beauty of the natural Lake Natron environment.
make stories around the bush campfire as you chat the night away
Enjoy the star gaze at night from the sky above the Ngorongoro Highlands
Take nature walks on paths leading to hills and valleys
Wildlife and bird watching

Ngorongoro Highlands to Lake Natron Trek

This 5 day trek to the Ngorongoro Highlands, Ngorongoro Crater, Olmoti Crater, Empakaai Crater, Nainokanoka Village and Lake Natron is the essence of stepping off the beaten path, taking you on foot through the volcanic landscapes of northern Tanzania, seeing locations that are just not accessible by car. You can squeeze this experience in after your Ngorongoro Crater game drives and fly onward to the Serengeti at the end of the trip, making it easy to combine with a typical northern circuit safari.

Between Ngorongoro and Lake Natron, immerse yourself in the intriguing life of the Maasai and discover more about their culture and customs with Maasai guides. You may trek to the bottom of this seldom-seen volcanic crater starting at Empakaai Crater, where the gravel road terminates.

You may trek to the bottom of this rarely-visited volcanic crater, which is home to flamingo, bushbuck, waterbuck, and numerous monkey species in the forest, starting at Empakaai Crater, where the dirt road terminates. The walk continues north along the Rift Valley wall, with excellent views of Ol Doinyo Lengai ahead, before descending to Lake Natron, where you will finish.

We’ve included two nights here to allow you to thoroughly explore the region, which has a lot to offer: a plethora of flamingos who use the lake as a breeding site, hominid footprints, climbs to the Ngare Sero waterfalls, and a variety of shorter walks.

We recommend staying at the Ngorongoro Highlands for a couple of nights before going on a game drive in the Ngorongoro Crater, as well as spending time with the Maasai villages or doing a warm-up climb up the Olmoti Crater behind the camp. You can also stay somewhere else in the Ngorongoro or Karatu regions.

Day1

Moshi or Arusha to Olmoti Crater to Nainokanoka Camp

You drive from Moshi or Arusha to the Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area in the morning. You will continue around the crater’s rim until you reach Nainokanoka settlement. A walk to the rim of the Olmoti Crater is planned for the afternoon. Along the trip, you’ll get the opportunity to see a tiny waterfall.

At Nainokanoka Camp, you’ll have dinner and spend the night.

Day 2

Nainokanoka Camp to Empakai Crater

You’ll meet your additional Massai guides and donkeys today, who will accompany you for the following few days. We’ll begin loading the donkeys for the journey while you’re eating your breakfast. Your trip will begin shortly after that. It’s a beautiful trek with several traditional Maasai bomas and cowherds to see along the route. Wild creatures such as gazelles, zebras, wildebeest, and giraffes can be seen if you’re lucky. The hike today will take between 7 and 8 hours. When you get at Empakai Crater, you’ll be rewarded with a spectacular vista of the Great Rift Valley to the west, as well as views of Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru to the east. Lake Natron may be seen in the distance to the north.

Dinner and overnight at Embakai Crater rim campsite.

Day 3

Empakai Crater via Naiyobi village to Acacia Camp

the 3rd day of your 5 day Ngorongoro Crater highlands and Lake natrok trek today will take between 8 and 9 hours, and you will be walking to the Maasai town of Naiyobi. The active volcano Oldoinyo Lengai may be observed from afar throughout your trek. You will say your goodbyes to the people of Naiyobi and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area after saying your goodbyes to the residents of Naiyobi. Outside of the protected area, the terrain grows drier and warmer.

Dinner and overnight at the Acacia Trees Camp.

Day 4

Acacia Camp to Lake Natron Kamakia Camp

Today’s trek will take you 6 to 7 hours and will be mostly downhill. Great views of Oldoinyo Lengai, Lake Natron, and the Great Rift Valley accompany the trek. You’ll drop into the Great Rift Valley, passing through a bizarre landscape formed by the ashes of Oldoinyo Lengai’s most recent eruption. When you arrive at the campground, you will have the opportunity to see the adjacent Engare Sero waterfall. At Lake Natron Kamakia Camp, you’ll have dinner and spend the night. (We may add an extra day to your journey if you want to climb Oldoinyo Lengai.) Just let us know when you make your reservation!)

Day 5

Lake Natron to Moshi or Arusha

You will have additional time to explore the lake after an energizing breakfast before heading for Moshi or Arusha, where your 5 day tour to Lake natron and the Ngorongoro Highlands will end in the afternoon. On request, a transfer to Arusha or Kilimanjaro Airport may be provided.

The cost for the whole 5 Days Ngorongoro – Lake Natron trekking trip includes and excludes the following items

5 Days Ngorongoro – Lake Natron Trek Price includes

Transport

Camping fees & equipment.

Village fees

Guide fees

Professional English speaking guide

3 breakfasts; 4 lunches; 3 dinners

1.5l water per day; tea and coffee with meals

Price Excludes

Bottled & Soft Drinks

International flights

Travel insurance

Sleeping bag

Visa and passport fees

Items and services of a personal nature

Tips & Gratuities

Gratuity

The following is on offer to visitors:
Monduli Juu’s lush green landscape offers plenty of half-day and full-day tours for tourists. As you explore this destination you will come across many plant species and vegetation, giving you the opportunity to learn more about the medicinal value of the plant-lifeand how traditional Maasai medicine men use them. One great place to visit a traditional medical doctor is at Naramatu which also happens to be a workshop used by Maasai women to create beautiful jewellery that is authentic to the Maasai people.

While you learn more about the culture of the people that live around and within Monduli Juu, the Maasai, you get to try out their food, roast meat, popularly known as “Nyama Choma” as you marvel at the panoramic views of the Rift Valley, Lake natron and the Mountain next to it, the Ol Donyo Lengai.

Half-day Trekking to Monduli

1. The ‘Kona Saba’ escarpment climb

Your trek will begin from Mfereji Village of Monduli Juu towards the peak of the Monduli Mountain as you traverse the savannah land after taking a cultural tour stop at a Maasai Boma along the way. Once you reach on top of the Monduli Mountain you will be rewarded with stunning views of the Rift Valley escarpment below.

2. The ever-green rainforest tour

This half-day tour begins from Enguiki Village with a hike towards the Peak on the Eastern side of the Monduli Mountains. You will pass different type of vegetation, water sources, animals and birdlife.

Full day trek

Medicinal herbs tour

The full-day Monduli Juu hike begins at Emairete dam as you traverse the Maasai church, a Maasai school for primary school kids and nursery school leading to Naramatu.

There are many amazing viewpoints the higher you go, but on your way there it would be wise to make a brief stop at the Maasai boma for a traditional Maasai lunch and a visit to a traditional Maasai herbal doctor.