In the morning the driver guide will pick you up from your hotel in Arusha and drive you to Ngorongoro Crater. A protected area and a World Heritage Site- located 195km west of Arusha (2hours drive). The area is named after Ngorongoro Crater, a large volcanic caldera within the area. The crater which formed when a large volcano exploded and collapsed on itself two to three million years ago is 610metres (2000 feet). Deep and its floor covers 260square kilometers (100 square miles). Estimates of the height of the original volcano range from 4500 to 5800 meters (14800 to 19000 feet) The crater floor is 1800metres (5900 feet) above sea level. The crater was voted by Seven Natural Wonders as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Africa in Arusha-Tanzania in February 2013. You will descend into the crater for a game drive till lunchtime (picnic lunch boxes served near the hippo pool). Later in the evening drive to the campsite for dinner and overnight

Accommodation

Simba A Campsite

Today In the morning drive to the Masai village of Nainokanoka from Ngorongoro Simba campsite early in the morning after breakfast, The journey will be along the fantastic views along the crater road, until you reach the Masai village of Nainokanoka with a nearby campsite. The camp will be set up and you will climb the rim of Olmoti Crater during the afternoon. The reward of the climb is the great view that you get from the top of the crater edge. There is also a possibility to visit a small waterfall along the way. Dinner will be served at the Camp

Accommodation

Basic camping

During the early morning hours, a Masai who will guide you for the next couple of days will reach the camp. The Masai guide is escorted by a couple of donkeys who will carry the luggage for the upcoming trek. After breakfast and loading the donkeys, the journey begins through the highland passing many traditional Masai bomas and their cattle. After a short distance, wild animals can be seen, including Thompson and Grant’s gazelle, zebras, and wildebeest. Where there are many animals, hungry jackals are not far away and high in the sky majestic eagles are observing the situation. The campsite for the night will be reached after 16km, close to the Masai village Bulati. You will have dinner and you will overnight at a special campsite

Accommodation

Basic Camping

After breakfast, the journey goes up a hill where you can take a last panoramic view of the grass plains. The trek continues up and down through the bushy landscape which finally opens up to the active volcano, Oldonyo Lengai. The trek gives you great views of the majestic volcano as well as into the impressive Empakai Crater before reaching the campsite for the night. A well-maintained track goes to the crater bottom, of which one-third is covered by Empakai Lake. This alkaline lake is an important home to flamingos, which can be observed throughout the year. When returning to the camp, a good dinner will be waiting for you. During the night you might hear the flamingo calls as they fly back to their breeding nests at Lake Manyara and Lake Natron. Dinner and overnight at the special campsite.

Accommodation

Basic Camping

The loading of the donkeys goes easier every day, as the participants and the animals are getting familiar with each other. Today, the journey goes to the Masai village Naiyobi. While following a good track, the village as well as Oldonyo Lengai can be seen from a distance. Just after lunch in Naiyobi, the trek leaves the Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area and the landscape becomes drier and warmer. The camp will be set up in a forest with yellow acacia for dinner and overnight

Accommodation

Basic camping

The last stage of the journey is shorter and goes mainly downhill. The highlights of the trek are the great views of Oldonyo Lengai, Lake Natron, and the Rift Valley. A big part of the rugged countryside is covered by the ashes of the last eruption in the year 2007, which add to the surreal picture of the landscape. The trek goes deeper down into the dry and hot Rift Valley, where the dried-out ashes can be viewed from up close. Just before lunchtime, you will reach the waiting jeep. Our driver will bring you to Lake Natron Lodge for a well-deserved cold drink or straight back to Arusha.