Ngorongoro Highlands
The rugged and beautiful Ngorongoro Highlands offers one of the finest blends of culture, landscapes and wildlife in Tanzania. The best way to experience the highlands is no doubt on foot. It’s diverse landscapes consisting of elevated volcanoes and craters, forests and vast grassy plains offers a remarkable experience for those hiking through this area. Hikers will experience first-hand how the Maasai people, who inhabit these highlands and the wildlife, coexist. The journey thought the highlands takes us to the edge of the great rift valley where we then descend to the base of the escarpment wall right on the foot of Mt. Ol Doinyo Lengai. Known to the Maasai as the “Mountain of God”, Ol Doinyo Lengai is one of the most unique active volcanoes in the world. Our trek ends up on the shores of the beautiful Lake Natron, an alkaline lake which serves as the breeding ground for the Lesser Flamingo
Highlights
- An off-the-beaten-track trek in the Ngorongoro Highlands.
- Start trekking at Empakai Crater.
- Private comfortable camping, with camp staff and cook.
- Reach Lake Natron with its myriad flamingos.
- Ol Donyo Lengai volcano - the Maasai Mountain of God.
This trek takes you into the remote Ngorongoro Highlands where you'll see stunning scenery, including one of the country's youngest and most active volcanoes, flamingo-filled crater lakes and Maasai tending their livestock and going about their daily lives.
Each day will show you different aspects of this little-visited part of Tanzania. You'll pass through the Great Rift Valley en-route to the highlands to begin the trek at Empakai Crater. You'll be walking through forest, providing welcome shade, to the emerald green lake. The next day you'll enjoy fabulous views from the crater rim before descending into meadow-land where you'll witness scenes of the Maasai pastoral lifestyle. On the third day the scenery become more arid as you follow a traditional trade route to the foot on Oldonyo Lengai, from where you'll be driven to the shores of Lake Natron.
This is off the beaten track, so you won't find any lodges on the route, which is part of its charm. Instead you'll be staying in private campsites, where you'll have a dome tent with a mattress, sleeping bag and fleece liner. The first and last campsites include a shower tent with hot water on request, while the middle site is a fly-camp with a more limited water, but you'll have access to a basin with warm water for washing. In all three camps you'll be attended by an experienced team who'll take care of all the chores, though you're welcome to help if you want! Your day will start with a nourishing breakfast and end with a scrummy dinner eaten by lamplight out in the African bush.
This trek can be taken on its own, but might be best as part of a longer itinerary, combining well with a traditional safari or with time on the coast, giving an extra, and special, dimension to your holiday.