6-Day Hike the Ngorongoro Highland with Maasai & Donkeys

• You'll be collected from the airport.
• Accommodation before the tour starts can be arranged for an extra cost.

Arusha to Ngorongoro Crater

After an early breakfast at the hotel, you'll depart at 6:30 am with packed lunches to Ngorongoro Crater. Upon arrival at 10:00 am, you'll proceed with a whole day safari inside the Crater, the home of the endangered black rhino, huge prides of lions, and pink flamingos inside Lake Magadi. You'll have lunch by the famous Ngoitoktok Hippo pool. Later, by 5 pm, you'll start your ascent to the Crater rim for dinner and overnight stay at Simba Camp (2500 m above sea level).

Main Destination:

Ngorongoro Crater

Best Time To Visit June to October (Wildlife viewing is best)

High Season Most of the year – July to March (Expect crowds)

Best Weather June to October (Rainfall is little to none)

Wildlife in Ngorongoro Crater

Black RhinoCommon

LionCommon

BuffaloAbundant

ZebraAbundant

WildebeestAbundant

HyenaAbundant

Show more

ElephantCommon

HippoCommon

LeopardOccasional

GiraffeNone

White RhinoNone

CheetahNone

Wild DogNone

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• On the crater rim of Ngorongoro Crater

Meals & Drinks:

• Dinner (Breakfast & lunch not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Ngorongoro Crater to Olmoti Crater

After breakfast at the camp, you will depart at 8:00 am from Simba Camp with packed lunches and head around the Ngorongoro Crater rim further deeper North/East in the lush forest to reach Nainokanoka Ranger post. Here, you will be accompanied by an armed ranger/Maasai warrior for your day hike inside the Olmoti Crater. You'll start your descent/hike into the Olmoti Crater from the highest point, which is 3000 m above sea level, until you reach the crater floor. Another short hike will also take you to visit the Munge Waterfalls, which are also the highlight of Olmoti Crater. Your dinner and overnight stay will be at Nainokanoka Camp.

Main Destination:

Ngorongoro Crater

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• On the crater rim of Ngorongoro Crater

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Olmoti to Lolmalasin Mountain to Empakai

After an early breakfast, you will start your drive from Nainokanoka Camp at 7:00 am with packed lunches to the foothills of Lolmalasin Mountain, "The Calabash in Maasai Language". Lolmalasin Mountain is the third-highest Mountain in Tanzania, with the peak standing at almost 3700 m above sea level. You will start this climb at 8:00 am from Bulati Village, which is the base of the mountain, accompanied by an armed ranger/Maasai warrior. It takes about 5 hours to reach the peak and 3 hours to descend back to the base. After your arrival back at the base by 4:00 pm, you will proceed with your drive from Bulati to Empakai Crater for dinner and overnight stay (3200 m above sea level).

Main Destination:

Ngorongoro Highlands

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• On the crater rim of Ngorongoro Highlands

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Empakai to Nayobi to Acacia Camp

Early breakfast, you will start your descent hike inside the Empakai Crater at 6:30 am, accompanied by your Maasai Warrior to reach the floor of the Crater, which is covered by an alkaline lake, which covers 75% of the floor, famous for pink flamingos. It is 85mts from the Crater rim to the floor. You'll start your ascent back to the rim by 8:30 am to reach the Empakai Camp at 9:00 am. Here, you will start your journey with Maasai warriors and the donkeys that will be carrying all your luggage, camping gear, food, water, etc. Your hike today will this day take you from Empakai Crater to Nayobi Village, which lies on the boundary of Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority, and onwards to Acacia Camp, which lies on the slopes of the Ngorongoro Highlands facing the "Mountain Of God" —Oldonyo Lengai. The estimated hiking time from Empakai Crater to Acacia Camp would be 6-7 hours in total. Your dinner and overnight stay will be at Acacia Camp (1800 m above sea level).

Main Destination:

Ngorongoro Highlands

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• On the crater rim of Ngorongoro Highlands

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Acacia to Lake Natron

After breakfast, you'll start your descent hike at 8:00 am from Acacia Camp to the base of Oldonyo Lengai. Estimated time of hike 4-5hrs with a spectacular view of Oldonyo Lengai and Lake Natron from the heights. Upon your arrival at the base of Lengai, you will say goodbye to the Maasai warriors and their donkeys, who will return home. You will then meet again with your driver and the vehicle to get you transferred from Lengai base to Lake Natron Camp. Once at Camp, you'll enjoy the cold showers after 3 days of "no showers" and also enjoy a hot lunch at the camp. At around 3:00 pm, you will be accompanied by a Maasai guide to take you to the Ngarasero Waterfalls swim. This is a three-hour activity, up and down. After thus long day, you'll have an early dinner at camp, and an overnight stay at Natron View Camp.

Main Destination:

Lake Natron

Accommodation:

Budget camping

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Lake Natron to Arusha

After breakfast at the camp, you'll start your drive at 7:00 am towards Lake Natron shores, accompanied by a Maasai guide. Here, you will have a chance to view pink flamingos and other Bird Species during early morning. You will then drive to the nearby Engare Sero Archeologic Footprint site, which is dated between 19,000 to 5,760 years ago. You'll return to the camp at 10:00 am, load up the vehicle with all camping gear and cook, start your drive at 10:30 am from Lake Natron back to Arusha (6 hours drive) to arrive in Arusha by 5 pm for drop off in town/hotel for onward arrangements. This marks the end of the hiking Ngorongoro Crater program.

Main Destination:

Arusha (City)

Accommodation:

No accommodation (End of tour)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast & lunch (Dinner not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

• Additional accommodation can be arranged for an extra cost.
• You'll be dropped off at the airport.