Explore Ngorongoro
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Olmoti Crater
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Empakai crater
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Full Itinerary
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Arrival
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Kilimanjaro International Airport -
Arusha: |
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Airport transfer with private
vehicle and guide, Amani Afrika
donates $50 per person
to Support for
indigenous Children
program, a non-profit
organization supporting
which provides funds to
supply food and mosquito nets to the orphanages in
Tanzania (www.sichildren.org).
Arusha is a city of northern
Tanzania surrounded by some of
Africa's most famous landscapes
and national parks. Beautifully
situated below Mount Meru on the
eastern edge of the eastern
branch of the Great Rift Valley,
it has a pleasant climate and is
close to Serengeti, Ngorongoro
Crater, Lake Manyara, Olduvai
Gorge, Tarangire National Park,
and Mount Kilimanjaro, as well
as having its own Arusha
National Park on Mount Meru.
International flights arrive at
Kilimanjaro International
Airport, and regional flights
use Arusha airport.
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Day 1: |
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Arusha - Lake Manyara - Ngorongoro:
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In the morning after breakfast at around 0830hrs
depart Arusha and drive to Lake Manyara National Park
for game viewing, in the afternoon at around 1300hrs you
will stop for picnic lunch, after lunch you will
continue with game viewing in the Manyara Park and at
around 1530hrs you will leave Manyara Park and drive to
Ngorongoro for sunset.
A major attraction of the Lake Manyara
National Park is the tree - climbing lions.
Unfortunately there is no guarantee that you will spot
them. However, there are other things to see -
elephants, hippos, zebras, impalas, buffalos, baboons,
plains animals as well as huge variety of birdlife, both
resident and migratory.
At certain times of the
year, Lake Manyara is home to thousands of flamingos
(attracted by the Lake itself), which form a shimmering
pink zone around the lake shore. Other birds found here
include ostriches, egrets, herons, pelicans and storks.
Also seen are African spoonbills, various species of
ibises, ducks and the rare pygmy geese. The most
noticeable of the landscape within this park are the
very impressive baobab trees with their huge trunks. |
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Day 2: |
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Full day at Ngorongoro: |
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In the morning after breakfast at
0800hrs descend into the crater for full day tour of the
crater, in the afternoon at around 1300hrs you will stop
for picnic lunch inside the crater near hippo pool or
lerai forest. After lunch proceed with game drives in
the crater. 1530hrs ascend the crater for dinner and
overnight on crater rim.
Ngorongoro Crater is known
to be Eight Wonder of the world, Nearly two million
years ago, Ngorongoro Peak towered almost as high as
Kilimanjaro. Both these Mountains formed the highest
peaks in Africa at that time. The Ngorongoro Volcanic
peak collapsed beneath the volcano to form a caldera,
the largest unbroken and unflooded in the world today.
Although a geological feature formed by the withdrawal
of molten in this manner is correctly called a caldera,
many people are traditionally used to the term Crater
and hence Ngorongoro Caldera is described as crater in
all the records available. Ngorongoro Crater is one of
the few natural places in East Africa where one can
guarantee sightings of the rare black rhino in their
natural setting.
Visitors to Ngorongoro can enjoy
walking around the area. Long walking safaris and short
hikes are both adventurous and rewarding. Within the
Ngorongoro Conservation Area are ore about the cultures
and traditions of the Maasai, a pastoral tribe allowed
to herd their cattle within the protected area. |
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Day 3: |
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Morning game drive in Ngorongoro - Olmoti Crater: |
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In the
morning after breakfast at 0800hrs descend into the
crater for game drive, continue to Olmoti crater, hike
to the crater rim and down to waterfalls. Afternoon:
continue to Embulbul, and spend the night at a campsite.
This shallow grassy
crater is the source of the Munge river, which pours
through a north in the rim in a spectacular waterfall on
its way to Ngorongoro crater. You will participate in a
pleasant walk from Nainokanoka ranger post, through the
forest up to the top of the waterfall. |
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Day 4: |
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Olmoti Crater to Empakai
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After breakfast you will continue on your way
heading to Empakai crater and hike into Empakai Crater
with an armed ranger.
No roads and no human inhabitants, a crater which
contains forests and a deep lake, where flocks of
flamingos can be spotted. The caldera is six kilometers
wide and the lake occupies nearly half of its floor. The
scenery is spectacular at every point.
From the northern
and eastern side you can look out to the dramatic cone
of Oldonyo Lengai, the Great Rift Valley and Lake
Natron. On the valleys eastern side you might see the
snow capped peak of Kilimanjaro. It is possible to camp
on the rim and hike into the crater with an armed
ranger. |
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Day 5: |
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Explore Empakai crater |
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In the
morning after breakfast descend into Empakai crater and
have full day walking excursion in the area. In the
evening ascend the crater for dinner and overnight on
the crater rim. |
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Day 6: |
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Empakai to Rift Valley |
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In the
morning after breakfast at around 0830hrs using donkeys
for camp porterage, you will walk from Empakai Crater
downward towards the edge of the Rift Valley Escarpment.
Camp at an excellent viewpoint onto the Rift Valley and
the splendid cone of Lengai volcano (for the Maassai,
the Mountain of Godalley)
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Day 7: |
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Rift Valley to Lake Natron |
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In
the morning at 0830hrs trekking into the Rift Valley,
base of Ol Doinyo Lengai mountain, Hike into the Rift
Valley: steep cliffs on one side, Lake Natron in front
and the impressive stratovolcano of Lengai on the other
side. Down in the valley, you will relax at a
comfortable campsite near Lake Natron.
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Day 8: |
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Lake Natron |
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Full day tour of Lake Natron where the highlights
include the Engaresero river gorge, breeding flamingos
in the soda lake, waterfalls and rift cliffs,
(water-shoes are required, and swimsuits!). |
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Day 9: |
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Travel back to Arusha |
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In the morning after breakfast at around
08300hrs drive from Lake Natron back to Arusha.
Overnight at a hotel in Arusha. Your accommodation on
this day is not included in the price but we can arrange
on request which will attract some extra costs. |
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Departure day: |
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Arusha and beyond: |
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This morning we have an
adventure de-briefing
followed by transfer to
your Arusha departure
point or JRO for your
travel beyond. |
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