A shorter Ngorongoro Highlands trek from Empakai Crater down the Rift Valley to Lake Natron, with Maasai guides.
- Duration
- 5 Days
- Style
- Trekking
- Country
- Tanzania
- Format
- Private
5 days · Trekking
At a glance
- 5
- Days
- 4
- Nights
- 3
- Places to stay
- Private
- Group
Where you'll stay
- Private camp on the Empakai crater rim
- Private campsite near the escarpment
- Private campsite near Lake Natron
3 stops across Tanzania
- 1ArushaDays 1–5
- 2Ngorongoro CraterDay 1
- 3Lake NatronDays 1–4
Every day is flexible — we tune the pace, lodges and game drives to you.
Arusha to Olmoti Crater to Empakai
An early start to reach Olmoti, then continue to Empakai Crater and hike in with an armed ranger. There are no roads or inhabitants in the crater, which has forest and a deep lake with flamingos. The 6 km wide caldera looks out to Oldonyo Lengai, the Great Rift Valley and Lake Natron, and perhaps snow-capped Kilimanjaro.
Where you stay
Private camp on the Empakai crater rim
Meals
Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Empakai to the Rift Valley
After breakfast at about 08:30, with donkeys carrying the camp gear, walk from Empakai Crater to the edge of the Rift Valley Escarpment and camp at a viewpoint of the Rift Valley and Lengai volcano ('Mountain of God' to the Maasai).
Where you stay
Private campsite near the escarpment
Meals
Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Rift Valley to Lake Natron
Trek into the Rift Valley to the base of Ol Doinyo Lengai, with cliffs on one side, Lake Natron in front and Lengai on the other, and relax at a comfortable campsite near Lake Natron.
Where you stay
Private campsite near Lake Natron
Meals
Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lake Natron
A full-day tour of Lake Natron: Engaresero river gorge, breeding flamingos in the soda lake, waterfalls and rift cliffs (water shoes and swimsuit required).
Where you stay
Private campsite near Lake Natron
Meals
Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Drive back to Arusha
After breakfast drive from Lake Natron back to Arusha.
Meals
Breakfast
Rates are in US dollars, per person sharing, based on the lodges in this itinerary. We'll confirm exact pricing for your dates and party.
Per person sharing
USD
From, per person sharing, USD (group of 2–6+, twin/double); quoted in the source for the 5- and 7-day Ngorongoro trekking options. Prices are guides and may change with season, availability and exchange rates. See our terms for payment and cancellation details.
Included
- Walking guide, park ranger and Maasai warriors accompany every trek
- Donkeys carry luggage and supplies
- Camping throughout (campsites)
- Meals as listed (breakfast, lunch and dinner)
Love this itinerary? Let's tailor every detail.
Tell us your dates and who's travelling — a Wildhorn designer will send a personal quote within 24 hours.
