7 DAYS– EMPAKAI TO NATRON HIKE WITH NGORONGORO

Day 1 - Arrive Kilimanjaro Airport - drive to Arusha

Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro Airport, you will be met by your driver and driven to Arumeru River Lodge.

Overnight: Arumeru River Lodge

Day 2 - Arusha - Ngorongoro

 After breakfast you will drive through Arusha with the chance to stop in a local market and see this bustling town. Afterwards you will drive out across the Maasai Steppe, seeing them graze their cattle before climbing the Great Rift Valley Escarpment and enjoying a stunning view down onto the land below as you have your lunch at Escarpment Luxury Lodge.
Your final drive of the day is through the Ngorongoro Highlands on to the rim where you can enjoy sundowners looking down into the Ngorongoro Crater and listening out for the different animal noises.

(Drive time from Arusha to the Ngorongoro Crater is approx. 4hrs)

Overnight: Sanctuary Crater Camp

Meal Plan: B,L,D

Day 3 - Ngorongoro Crater - Empakai Crater

This morning, descend down i to the Ngorongoro Crater for a truly memorable game drive in this “Garden of Eden”. After lunch back at the camp you will drive out to Empakai Crater (approx. 1 hr) On arrival at Empakai Crater there is the option to descend into the crater. This is around 40 minutes down and depending on the season it  can be quite slippery but certainly a great hike with stunning views. Flamingoes are often seen flying into the crater or feeding in the lake at the base. A hot shower is available before dinner.

Overnight: Empakai Private Camp

Meal Plan: B,L,D

Day 4 - Empakaai Crater - Acacia Camp

Dawn rises and our lofty position affords a great sunrise. As we enjoy breakfast our camp crew dissemble the camp and send it ahead with donkeys. We then set off hiking with Maasai guides following a route that takes us through picturesque Maasai villages and rolling hills. Lunch can be taken en-route as a picnic or if guests are very fit a late lunch can be had in camp. In the late afternoon a hike up to a nearby viewpoint is highly recommended and a great place for sundowners!

Overnight: Acacia Camp

Meal Plan: B,L,D

Day 5 - Acacia Camp - Lake Natron

The final section of hiking has two options of a shorter hike or a longer more strenuous option right along the rift wall. The views are spectacular with the active volcano Oldoinyo Lengai dominating the foreground. This volcano affects almost everything from hydrology to lifestyle, as will become apparent. Once down on the rift valley floor we are picked up and transferred to Lake Natron Camp, Ngare Sero and here we have the chance to jump in the natural pools to cool down. Sundowners are served at any number of beautiful points close to camp.

Overnight: Lake Natron Camp

Meal Plan: B,L,D

Day 6 - Lake Natron

Lake Natron has a number of activities that are very easily combined with dawn walks and sundowners and in the middle of the day there is the nearby Ngare Sero gorge that you can walk to with options of long hikes to the source or shorter hikes to waterfalls. The staff are on hand to make you stay as adventurous or relaxing as you want.

Overnight: Lake Natron Camp

Meal Plan: B,L,D

Day 7 - Lake Natron - Arusha

After breakfast you can do some additional activities before departure and picnic lunches are provided to ensure you reach your goal well fed. The drive is approximately 5hrs with another hour to Kilimanjaro Airport. Option of a day room in Arusha

Meal Plan: B,L