A week which offers the perfect combination of traditional game viewing and off the beaten track hiking in the spectacular volcanic scenery of Northern Tanzania's Great Rift Valley.
Starting with vehicle based game viewing in Lake Manyara National Park and Ngorongoro Crater, you continue for 3 days hiking through the crater highlands to Lake Natron, a remote and wild site at the foot of the active volcano Oldonyo Lengai. Hikes include Olmoti Crater, Empakai Crater and across the rift to Oldonyo Lengai. This area is all home to the Maasai people and you will hike with them and visit their villages along the way, learning about their pastoral, nomadic way of life. The trail from Empakai to Acacia Camp follows cattle tracks and passes through Nayobi, a small village which is a trading centre for teh local community. Towards Natron the last piece of the trail follows the ancient Maasai trading route to the foot of Lengai - for years Maasai on the lower plans have traded goods with those in the highlands.
On the last part of the main hike down to Natron, you stop for lunch in the shade of a dramatic canyon, temperatures around Natron can be very high. Whilst camping at Lake Natron you can take walks to the lake shore to see flamingos and other bird life, meet the local Maasai people and walk to waterfalls - great for cooling off on a hot day - take a shower in the waterfall!
This safari consists of mainly camping, in private camp sites in remote areas. You will have your own vehicle and guide with extra porters and staff for the days without vehicles on the hikes.
Accommodation: One night tented lodge, four nights dome tents (Adventure Camping) and one night in basic lightweight flycamping. On the night at Acacia Camp before the donkey trek, there will not be enough water for a shower - staff will provide you with warmed water in a jug with a wash stand at your tent.
At Lake Natron it is possible to upgrade the accommodation to Ngare Sero permanent Tented Camp, ask us for price details.
Tailor made to suit.
Included
All meals, services of a private guide / vehicle; all camping equipment and camp staff; all transfers; game viewing and park fees; local concession fees; guided walks and armed rangers; drinking water, tea and coffee.
Not included
Drinks, tips, laundry, items of a personal nature.
For you
This trip requires a good general level of fitness for the hiking section and the walls down to Empakai Crater are quite steep, but not technically difficult.
Best time
Can be done at any time of year but avoid the main rains April - May for the hiking sections as visibility is poor and trails slippery.
Getting there
There are daily flights from the UK into Kilimanjaro airport. We can add on the coast or other parts of East Africa if you would like, please ask us for a quotation.
