Ngorongoro Highlands Itinerary

Ngorongoro Highlands Itinerary

Empakai Crater – Lake Natron – Oldoinyo L’engai – Serengeti North (include Hiking Tour)

Day 1: Arusha – Tarangire

Depart Arusha in the Morning to Tarangire NP; The Park is wonderful for its herds of Elephants, and all types of wildlife, trees and bird life, later we drive to our Lodge, Camp or Campsite in Tarangire for dinner & overnight.

Day 2: Tarangire – Lake Manyara

After breakfast we continue with the morning game drive in Tarangire before departing to Lake Manyara NP for afternoon game drive, in Lake Manyara. Manyara is famous for its bird life. Dinner & overnight in a Lodge, Camp or Campsite in Mto wa Mbu or Karatu.

Day 3: Lake Manyara – Ngorongoro

After breakfast we leave for Ngorongoro Crater, the crater is the only caldera such big in the earth uncovered with water; it is also blessed with prehistory, wildlife, big games and the perfect place to watch the big five. It is the only park that has human (the Masai) living in, with their livestock. Dinner & overnight in a Lodge in Ngorongoro crater rim or a Campsite.

Day 4: Ngorongoro – Nainokanoka – Empakai Crater

Morning Game Drive before departing for Nainokanoka then to the closest village (Bullati Village) in Empakai where you will start your hiking trip with masai guides and donkeys to Empakai Crater, The most beautiful of the craters, while in Nainokanoka you may have an option to visit the Olmoti crater. Dinner & overnight on the crater rim in a Campsite in Bullati Village

Day 5: Empakai Crater

After breakfast we start trekking through open grassland area, bushland area and forests, gradually gaining height to the rim of Empakai crater. Then we descend into the crater floor covered with dense equatorial forests, grass and a volcanic lake. Buffaloes, reedbucks and different species of birds can be seen close to the lake. Dinner and overnight at the camp on the crater rim in Empakai

Day 6: Empakai – Naiyobi Village

Today we descend the crater rim towards the north-western side. At the afternoon we reach the Naiyobi Maasai village. For those who wish, you can enjoy a conversation with the Maasai people and visit their local primary school. Dinner and overnight at the acacia trees forest near the village at the Acacia Campsite.

Day 7: Naiyobi Maasai Village – Lake Natron

Departing in the morning following the dusty paths downhill off the crater highlands to Mouwongoni Maasai village, where we will meet our vehicle that will transfer us to campsite or lodge in Lake Natron for dinner and overnight.

Day 8: Lake Natron – Northern Serengeti

Today we depart to Northern Serengeti the perfect area to watch the Mara river wildebeest crossing. Dinner & Overnight in a lodge, camp or campsite in Northern Serengeti

Day 9: Mara River

Full day Game drive in northern Serengeti and Mara River and later in the evening we go back to the lodge, camp or campsite of dinner and overnight.

Day 10: Northern Serengeti – Central Serengeti

Morning flight to Arusha or Zanzibar or Drive to Central Serengeti with a game drive en route, for dinner and overnight in Seronera, in a camp, lodge or campsite.

Day 11: Central Serengeti – Karatu / Arusha

An optional early morning game drive in Seronera and then transfer to have a rest in Karatu, or leaving early in the morning to Arusha to catch up with your international flight back home.

Note: Spending a night in Karatu will add days to 12, you have an optional Oldoinyo L’Engai climbe while in Lake Natron in day 7.

Empakai – Lake Natron – Oldoinyo L’engai Trail

Day 1: Arusha – Lake Manyara – Ngorongoro Crater

Early in the morning we start our drive to Ngorongoro through the Rift Valley, passing spectactular scenery and Maassai villages. Encounters possible monkeys, giraffes, elephants and flamingos at Manyara viewpoint. In the afternoon we arrive at our private campsite in Karatu.  After lunch we leave for Ngorongoro Crater for afternoon Game Drive. Dinner and Overnight at Karatu Kudu Campsite

Day 2: Ngorongoro – Nainokanoka Village (3-4 hours)

In the morning, we do our morning game drive in Ngorongoro crater. In the afternoon, we circle the crater and drive into the vast and rarely visited central part of the Highlands to Olmoti Crater (about 1 hour drive). Option for an easy hike to the crater rim and down to waterfalls. Dinner and Overnight at the campsite in Nainokanoka.

Day 3: Nainokanoka Village – Bullati Village (17.5 km/7.5h)

Today our hike will take us to the Embulmbul depression following the cattle trails through forests and grasslands. The depression is a level hollow ground, with short grass where animals like buffalos, zebras and gazelles graze. Dinner and overnight at Bulati campsite.

Day 4: Bullati Village – Empakai Crater (4-5 h)

After breakfast we start trekking through open grassland area, bushland area and forests, gradually gaining height to the rim of Empakai crater. Then we descend into the crater floor covered with dense equatorial forests, grass and a volcanic lake. Buffaloes, reedbucks and different species of birds can be seen close to the lake. Dinner and overnight camp on the crater rim. 

Day 5: Empakai Crater – Naiyobi Village (Bullati – Accacia 15km/7.5h)

Today we descend the crater rim towards the north-western side. At the afternoon we reach the Naiyobi Maasai village. For those who wish, you can enjoy a conversation with the Maasai people and visit their local primary school. Dinner and overnight at the acacia trees forest near the village.

Day 6: Naiyobi Maasai Village – Lake Natron – Oldoinyo L’Engai  (20 km/ 8-10h)

Departing in the morning following the dusty paths downhill off the crater highlands to Mouwongoni Maasai village. There we meet our vehicle that will transfer us to Kamakia campsite for dinner,later at 8 p.m. we meet our Oldoinyo L’Engai Guide for briefing about the mountain and the trekking, we get into our vehicles to the Oldoinyo Lengai Base this is because we need to reach the L’Engai Peak at the dawn. There we will enjoy the magnificent view of the active volcano crater. Overnight on the peak,

Day 7: Lake Natron

We descend down the mountain to the camp for breakfast. Later we walk to Lake Natron soda lake for viewing flamingos and Engaresero River for bathing at the water falls. Then we go back to Kamakia Campsite for Dinner and Overnight.

Day 8: Lake Natron – Engaruka – Manyara

We depart early in the morning to Engaruka Ruins (The Africa’s Oldest civilization) we visit the ruins and later we continue to Mto wa Mbu, Dinner and Overnight at Twiga Campsite

Day 9: Manyara – Arusha

We pass by the Lake Manyara National Park for morning game drive, lunch boxes served in the picnic sites in the Lake Manyara National park later we continue to Arusha, Dinner and Overnight in your hotel.

Empakai Trail: Arusha – Ngorongoro Lake Natron – Lengai – Arusha

Day 1: Arusha – Lake Manyara – Ngorongoro Crater

Early in the morning we start our drive to Ngorongoro through the Rift Valley, passing spectactular scenery and Maassai villages. Encounters possible monkeys, giraffes, elephants and flamingos at Manyara viewpoint. In the afternoon we arrive at our private campsite in Karatu.  After lunch we leave for Ngorongoro Crater for afternoon Game Drive. Dinner and Overnight at Karatu Kudu Campsite

Day 2: Ngorongoro – Nainokanoka Village (3-4 h)

In the morning, we do our morning game drive in Ngorongoro crater. In the afternoon, we circle the crater and drive into the vast and rarely visited central part of the Highlands to Olmoti Crater (about 1 hour drive). Option for an easy hike to the crater rim and down to waterfalls. Dinner and Overnight at the campsite in Nainokanoka Campsite.

Day 3: Nainokanoka Village – Bullati Village (17.5 km/7.5h)

Today our hike will take us to the Embulmbul depression following the cattle trails through forests and grasslands. The depression is a level hollow ground, with short grass where animals like buffalos, zebras and gazelles graze. Dinner and overnight at Bulati campsite.

Day 4: Bullati Village – Empakai Crater (4-5 h)

After breakfast we start trekking through open grassland area, bushland area and forests, gradually gaining height to the rim of Empakai crater. Then we descend into the crater floor covered with dense equatorial forests, grass and a volcanic lake. Buffaloes, reedbucks and different species of birds can be seen close to the lake. Dinner and overnight camp on the crater rim. 

Day 5: Empakai Crater – Bullati Village (4-5h)

Today we leave crater to Bullati village for dinner and overnight.

Day 6: Bullati – Nainokanoka (17.5 km/7.5h)

Day 7: Nainokanoka – Arusha 

Empakai Trail: Arusha – Empakai – Arusha

Day 1: Arusha – Bullati Village

Early in the morning we start our drive to Ngorongoro through the Rift Valley, passing spectactular scenery and Maassai villages. Encounters possible monkeys, giraffes, elephants and flamingos at Manyara viewpoint. In the afternoon we arrive at our private campsite in Bullati Village, for dinner and overnight

Day 2: Bullati Village – Empakai Crater (4-5 h)

After breakfast we start trekking through open grassland area, bushland area and forests, gradually gaining height to the rim of Empakai crater. Then we descend into the crater floor covered with dense equatorial forests, grass and a volcanic lake. Buffaloes, reedbucks and different species of birds can be seen close to the lake. Dinner and overnight camp on the crater rim. 

Day 3: Empakai Crater – Bullati Village (4-5h) – Arusha

After breakfast we start our hiking back to Bullatti Village where we will meet our driver who will drive us back to Arusha for dinner and overnight in Arusha.

Note:

• Serengeti North (Includes Lobo Area), Serengeti Central (Includes Seronera Area), Serengeti South (Includes parts of Ndutu Area and of Maswa Game Reserve) and Serengeti West (Includes parts of Ikoma Area and Grumeti & Ikorongo Game Reserves).
• In order to reduce driving distance from Serengeti to Arusha, we will recommend starting in Serengeti and finish in Ngorongoro.
• Itineraries may and will highly depend on Wildebeest and Zebra migration Calendar
• Allow more days to reduce rushing and very long distance drive and allow more time in the park.
• Lunch boxes to be served en route.
• 4 Days Empakai Arusha Trail will include spending a night at Bullati Village or visiting Ngorongoro Crater.