5 Day Ngorongoro Highlands Trek
5 Day Ngorongoro Highlands Trek Overview
This is a trek for adventurous travelers who want to get off the beaten path and do something thrilling. Trek with donkeys over Ngorongoro Highlands, then climb Tanzania’s only active volcano, Oldoinyo Lengai.
The trek is led by a Maasai guide who knows the terrain and grew up in the region.
The trek passes through the beautiful trails of the Ngorongoro highlands to beautiful, remote Lake Natron.
It continues with a mountain trek up Oldoinyo Lengai, and ends with a transfer back to Arusha town. The only time you will be in a safari jeep is to reach the trailhead, and at the end.
This tour may be combined with a Day Tour to Ngorongoro Crater.
Check out our 4-Day Trek through Ngorongoro Highlands, if you do not wish to climb Oldoinyo Lengai Mountain.
DETAILS:
No. of Trekking Days: 4
Altitude Start: 3,200m
Overnight in: Tents
Start: Empakai Crater
End: Lake Natron
This trek includes a full mountain climb. All accommodations are overnight in Tents.
Day by Day Itinerary
Pre-Trip Briefing
Before the official start of your trek, we will meet for a quick briefing to answer any questions you may have.
This briefing day could be a few days before your trek, if you are going on a safari or game drive, or the day before you start.
This tour does not include accommodations before or after the trek. Overnight will be in tents, camping throughout.
Day 1: Empakai Crater to Empakai Special Camp
Start off with a hearty breakfast, then transfer from your hotel (either in Karatu area, Manyara or Aurhsa) to Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
After registration, drive to the trailhead of Empakai Crater. approx 1 hr drive)
Start off with a gentle descent into the crater. Animal sightings are possible, so keep your eyes open.
An alkaline lake covers most of the crater floor, and it is home to flocks of pink flamingos.
After a picnic lunch, continue toward Empakai Camp where you will overnight.
Due to the altitude, it may be chilly this evening, so be prepared with warm layers.
The trek this day covers 15 km and is moderate to easy.
Dinner and overnight at Empakai Special Campsite.
Lunch and Dinner Provided.
Day 2: Empakai Special Campsite to Acacia Campsite
After breakfast, start trekking with donkeys.
Your group will hike through Naiyobi Village, a local Maasai community that lives within the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
After enjoying a picnic lunch, hike out of the Conservation Area and enter more arid landscape. Despite the change of landscape, the views throughout are stunning.
Overnight in the shade of Acacia Camp, which sits at a lower elevation than the previous night (it is likely to be warmer).
The trek covers 10 kms and takes approximately 5 hours.
Overnight at Acacia Camp.
All meals provided.
Day 3: Acacia Camp to Lake Natron
After breakfast, dismantle tents and prepare the donkeys once again.
Today’s hike is 8 kms and is mostly descent toward Lake Natron. It takes 3-4 hours only.
Once the tents are set up, the group is recommended to rest early, as the climb up Oldoinyo Lengai begins around midnight.
Overnight at a Lake Natron Campsite.
All meals provided.
Day 4: Climb Mount Oldoinyo Lengai
Climbers usually wake around 11 pm the previous day to have a light snack and prepare headlamps and trekking poles for the upcoming climb.
A vehicle will transfer you to the base of the sacred mountain and you will begin the climb around midnight.
Oldoinyo Lengai translates to “The Mountain of God” in the Maasai language, and is an important place in the local culture.
The peak of the volcano stands at just under 3000 m. While this doesn’t rank it as a necessarily high mountain, it is an incredibly steep mountain, which is part of the challenge but up and down.
The climb to reach the top generally takes 6 hours, while the descent takes 4-5 hours, as well. Trekking poles are highly recommended.
The goal is to reach the summit in time for sunrise. The epic views of the Ngorongoro Highlands and Lake Natron are a reward for all climbers who reach the top.
Begin descent, and return to campsite for a hearty brunch and well-deserved rest.
Day 5: Visit Lake Natron and Transfer to Arusha
Enjoy a relaxing morning at the campsite.
After breakfast, visit Natron’s Lakeshore. It is usually full of pink flamingos (its is the largest nesting site in the world for Lesser Flamingos), but you may not swim in its waters.
When you’re ready, breakdown camp and begin drive back to Arusha via the Natron-Longido Route.
The drive takes 5-6 hrs, depending on the road conditions.
Breakfast and Lunch provided.
-End of Tour-
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