7 Days Walking Safari – Tarangire, Ngorongoro Highland & Lake Natron

Itinerary

Day 1:  Arrival – Arusha

Arrive at Kilimanjaro airport, you will be picked up from the airport by a Summit Climb representative and conveyed to your accommodation in Moshi/Arusha where you will overnight, relax, and prepare in anticipation of the adventures to come, restore and enjoy your first taste of Africa. Depending on your arrival time, you may have your pre-safari briefing today; if not, it will take place early tomorrow morning.

• Meals Plan: Dinner included

Accommodation

• Location: Arusha City
• Budget Hotel: Arusha Green Mountain| Venus Premier Hotel| Outpost Lodge| Mc-Elly’s Hotel
• Mid-range: Ilboru Safari Lodge| Arusha Planet Lodge| Pazuri Inn| Masailand Safari Lodge
• Luxury: River Tree Lodge | Mount Meru Hotel| Four Point by Sheraton Arusha| The African Tulip Luxury Boutique Hotel
• Luxury Plus: Grand Melia Lodge| Arusha Serena Hotel, Resort & Spa| Arusha Coffee Lodge| Kili Villa

Day 2: Arusha to Tarangire National park.

• Distance & Drive time: Arusha to Tarangire takes about 2.5 to 3 hours (106 km/65mi)- Tarangire to Karatu takes about 1.5hour (95km/59mi)

Pick up at 7:00 AM from your hotel in Arusha and depart for Tarangire National park with a picnic lunch for a full day game drive. Tanzania’s third largest National park is known for its majestic baobab trees that dot the landscape, dwarfing the animals that feed beneath them. The Tarangire River is the centerpiece of this park which is famous for some of the largest herds of elephants in Africa. Here you may see lion, leopard, cheetah, lesser kudu, buffalo, oryx, eland, giraffe, and zebra. After a full day in the park, we will drive to the camp/Lodge where a delicious dinner awaits you, and spend the night.    

• Meals plan: Lunch & Dinner included

 Accommodation

• Location: Karatu
• Budget Camping outside the Park: Haven nature Safari Camp and Lodge| Fanaka Safaris Campsite & Lodges| Migombani Camp
• Mid-range: Marera Valley Lodge| Eileen’s Tree Lodge| Ngorongoro Marera Mountain View Lodge| Karatu Simba Lodge| Ngorongoro Farm House |
• Luxury: Ngorongoro Coffee lodge | Kitela Lodge| The Retreat At Ngorongoro| Gibbs Farm| Rhotia Valley
• Luxury Plus: The Manor at Ngorongoro| Oldeani Mountain Lodge| Neptune Ngorongoro Luxury Lodge

Day 3: Ngorongoro Crater to Empakaai Camp

The drive from Karatu to the gate of Ngorongoro Conservation Area takes about 30 minutes. When you first see Ngorongoro Crater, it looks like a forgotten world. Concealed by the steep volcanic walls is a pristine wilderness including sweeping savannah, pockets of acacia woodland, and glistening lakes and swamps. The Crater was created when a large volcano exploded and collapsed in on itself two to three million years ago. The crater provides you with the best chance of seeing endangered black rhino which can be seeing endangered black rhino, which can sometimes be spotted in the open grasslands.

After you have explored Ngorongoro Crater, you will drive to Empakaai Camp (approximately 2.5 hrs.) The road to Empakaai Crater follows the Ngorongoro Crater rim for some time. Rich green rolling hills, with Maasai villages peppered across the landscape. Tonight, you will camp next to the Crater Rim. The views of the Crater and lake are stunning. This is true bush camping: no washrooms, no running water, no electricity. But staring up at the stars accompanied by the sounds of the bush and the crackling of the fire is something you will never forest. Your crew will set the tents and start preparing dinner. This is where you will meet your donkeys, who will accompany you until you reach Lake Natron. In Tanzania, donkeys are a lifeline for communities. They help with water, firewood, land cultivation, and transportation of produce to the market. They will be excellent companions.

• Meals plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Accommodation

• Location: Ngorongoro NCAA
• Budget Camping: Simba A Public Campsite
• Mid-range: Ngorongoro Rhino Lodge| Angata tented Lodge|
• Luxury: Sopa Ngorongoro| Serena Ngorongoro| Ngorongoro Lions Paw Camp
• Luxury Plus: Ngorongoro Lodge Meliá Collection

Day 4: Empakaai Crater

One of the most popular hikes in Tanzania, the chance to hike Empakaai Crater is one of the major selling points of any visit to the Ngorongoro Highlands.

Departing from camp after breakfast, we’ll make our way to the Empakaai Crater rim for an astounding view of the green paradise that exists within this lost world. Empakaai Crater offered unparalleled views of Ol Doinyo legal, a still active volcano. There’s also the opportunity to see Lake Natron, the Great Rift Valley, and even distant Mount Kilimanjaro on a clear day.

 With photos taken, it’s time to descend to the crater floor. With some parts of the crater rim rising 300m/984ft above the crater floor, you ‘ll enjoy a steep descent with astonishing views of the heavily forested crater. During your descent, you ‘ll have the opportunity to see wildlife such as buffaloes, bushbucks, blue monkeys, and a large variety of birds not limited to sunbirds and turacos.

 While wandering along the shores of Empakai Lake, you will have the chance to see waterbucks, bushbucks, and eland. Far removed from the hustle and bustle of the regular tourist attractions, you will be moved by the silence and serenity of this land time forgotten.

After the hike into the Crater, you will continue towards Lake Natron. You will pack up camp, and hike with the donkeys and guides following a route that takes you through picturesque Maasai villages and rolling hills. You will walk approximately 17km today. The approach to Acacia camp is through a wonderful forest of yellow –bark acacia trees. Once again, Acacia camp is bush camping. The donkeys have their enclosure or ‘boma’ which helps to keep them safe in camp throughout the night.

• Meals plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

 Accommodation

• Location: Naiyobi Village
• Budget Camping: Acacia Campsite
• Day 5: Naiyobi Village – Mounwongoni Village.

Beginning early in the morning, you’ll make these 11 kilometers/6miles, it will take you about 6 –hours to trek from Naiyobi to mounwongoni Village.

A predominantly downhill hike, you’ll move along dusty trails as we bid farewell to the verdant crater highlands.

• Meals plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

 Accommodation

• Location:  Mounwongoni Village
• Budget Camping: Acacia Campsite

Day 6: Ol Doinyo Lengai

One of the few volcanoes in the world to emit sodium carbonate and potassium, still active Ol Doinyo Lengai is a strikingly beautiful volcano that photographers and hikers alike love.

Due to the intense heat the volcano emits, it can be climbed at night when the air is cooler, so we will depart at around 3 or 4 am to begin our ascent. As the only active volcano in East Africa, climbing Ol Doinyo Lengai is an invigorating experience that rewards successful climbers with an astounding view of the surrounding lands and distant lake Natron.

Returning to camp at around lunchtime, you will dine before out on a game drive around the Lake Natron area.

• Meals plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Accommodation

• Location: Lake Natron
• Budget Camping: Worldview Campsite
• Mid-range: Maasai Giraffe Eco Lodge|
• Luxury: Africa Safari Lake Natron

Day 7: Lake Natron to Arusha

An early start is advised for her. Being on the shore of Lake Natron as the sun rises is something you will never forget. Lake Natron is often described as having a lunar beauty. The lake gets reddish color and it is one of their only breeding grounds.

You can expect to see wildlife such as Zebra, wildebeest, oryx, ostriches, kudu, gerenuk, and jackals in addition to the lake’s resident flamingos, but it is the area’s distinct mix of ravines, craters, and lakes that make it such as a unique location. You will have a chance to experience these incredible birds and then return to camp for breakfast After late breakfast, you will return to Arusha. Drive time approximately 4 hrs. You will be transferred back to Mosh/Arusha/Airport in the afternoon via curio shops where you can grab some souvenirs to take back home with you. With an incredible experience and loads of memories to cherish, this is the time you say goodbye to your safari crew.

• Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch. As today is the end of the safari, please note that dinner tonight is not included in the tour.

Departure Instructions

Please note that the Walking Safari-Tarangire, Ngorongoro Highland &Lake Natron Tour-  7 Days ends at Kilimanjaro International Airport at 17.00 hours. Your departure can only take place today if you have pre-booked a domestic flight which leaves from Kilimanjaro International Airport at 19.00 hours or after, or an international flight which leaves at 21.00 hours or after. Otherwise, you will need to book an extra night’s accommodation (not included in the tour price) and take a flight the following day

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