The Rift and the Crater

Included

Trained Maasai guide, scout, all walks, water on walks, meals as specified, park entries, crater entry, game drives, landrover and guide.

Not included

International flights, visas, travel insurance, tips.

For you

The trek up the escarpment is quite steep, but can be taken slowly. Fine for people of average fitness.

Best time

This trip can be done at any time of year. However, in the wet season, the trekking could be challenging especially up the escarpment. The long rains are March/April to June, short rains November to late December/early January.

Getting there

Return flights from the UK will cost from £450-800 depending on season and availability (about £650 is most usual).

Duration: 4 or 8 days.

4 day trip:

1. Day 1:
   A day’s gameviewing in the Lake Manyara National Park. Overnight Kirurumu Tented Lodge, your base for 3 nights. (L,D)
2. Day 2:
   An early drive to Silela (30 mins). Your Maasai guide leads you to the forest on elephant trails, which make for easy walking. After lunch, you head up the Rift Wall which takes about 2-3 hours. (FB)
3. Day 3:
   A day’s gameviewing in Ngorongoro Crater. (FB)
4. Day 4:
   Connect with onward arrangements. (B)

8 day trip inc. Losimongori:

1. Day 1:
   To Losimongori. You will be collected from your choice of location (Arusha, Ngorongoro, Serengeti area) and transferred to Losimongori on the floor of the Great Rift Valley. We will be staying at our private camp called Albezia Camp. Full board.
2. Day 2:
   To Losimongori Summit. We have a wonderful hike today. The going is quite steep but we take it slowly as we have all day to get to the top. The views across the African plains are magnificent. Our kit and the camping equipment is all portered up for us and our summit camp will be ready buy the time we arrive. Full board.
3. Day 3:
   To Losirwa Camp. Today's hike is all downhill. We walk down one of the extensive flanks back to the bottom of Losimongori. Again our camp will be ready for us on arrival. We will be staying at our private camp called Losirwa Camp. Full board
4. Day 4:
   Across the Rift Valley. It is a wonderful walk today from the foot of Losimongori across the African plains in the valley. This is the traditional homeland of the Maasai and we will visit one of the bomas en route. We will be here as their guests and will be welcomed and shown around. Tonight we camp in the Rift Valley, at a halfway point between Losimongori and the Silela Forest.
5. Day 5:
   Across the Rift Valley to Silela. We continue our walk with Maasai guides across the Rift Valley floor, finally arriving at the Silela Forest.
6. Day 6:
   Ascending the scarp. The challenge for today is to follow the path that the elephants created - right up the side of the rift valley escarpment! We don't have to rush as we have all day to get to our camp at the top of the escarpment. Full board.
7. Day 7:
   To Kirurumu. We hike along the top of the escarpment through patchwork fields and beautiful scenery. The end of our journey is at Kirurumu Tented Lodge, a charming eco-lodge set right at the edge of the escarpment with commanding views over Lake Manyara in the Rift Valley below. Full board.
8. Day 8:
   We transfer by road to Kilimanjaro Airport (or Arusha) to connect with international flight home, or onward travel.