Ngorongoro Highlands Donkey Trek: Africa Natural Safari
AFRICA NATURAL SAFARI (The best tour company in Tanzania)
Specialized in:
Wildlife safaris, Cultural tourism, Beach holidays and
Mountain climbing
Contact +255 653 679 958
Ngorongoro Highlands Donkey Trek
The
Ngorongoro highlands are home to
some of the East Africa’s most spectacular sights; misty forests and rolling
hills, ancient craters and the noble Maasai who inhabit this beautiful
land. You are in the heart of Maasailand
with a Maasai guide which is a very
special experience. The daily trekking time ranges from 4 to 6 hours, and
trekkers are only required to carry a daypack.
Day 1: – Depart
from Arusha at 8am for Empakai Crater
in the Ngorongoro Highlands. This
drive is about 5 hours. Upon arrival at camp, begin the descent with an armed
ranger through the lush forest leading to the crater floor about 1500 feet
below. Along the way, enjoy the vegetation and stunning views of the
flamingo-lined soda lake. Thousands of flamingos line the shore, which gives
the impression of a “pink beach” during the walk down. The walk around the lake
takes approximately 1½ to 3 hours, and the total trek is from 4 to 5 hours. Overnight at Empakai Special Campsite.
Day 2:
– Depart camp around 10am. Donkeys will carry your light bag to the next
campsite. The walk carries us on a rough 4 x 4 track leading along the rim of
the crater, and eventually down a ridge looking out over the highlands. The top
of Oldony’o Lengai juts into the
sky, its steep slopes piercing the horizon created by the highlands atop the
Rift Valley Escarpment wall. Along the road we pass Maasai women walking to the
crater rim with donkeys in search of long grass to cut for their cows, and for
roofing for their bomas (huts). The area is home to the Maasai people, living
their traditional pastoralist lifestyle. We walk down into the small village of
Nayobi, a center of trading ‘center’ for the local community. Continue on a
cattle trail downward into scrub-woodland. The private campsite is set under
acacia trees, with a stunning view of Lengai. You arrive at about 3pm to the
campsite. Dinner and overnight at Acacia
Private Bush Campsite.
Day 3: – After
breakfast, set off early, downward still, along to the edge of the escarpment
wall. The trail turns sharply downward along an ancient trading route to the
foot of Lengai…for centuries the Maasai on the lower plains have traded their
goods with the Maasai in the highlands. We stop midway along the trail to eat
lunch in the shade of a canyon. Once we reach the base of the escarpment, we’ll
be picked up and driven over to our private campsite set under giant Acacia
shade trees on the south end of the lake. Take the afternoon to relax in camp,
or we visit by vehicle the lake shore. Dinner and overnight at Lake Natron Private Camp.
For
those who want to hike Oldony’o Lengai;
Rest during the afternoon, and go to bed early. You’ll be woken at 12am with a
cup of tea or coffee, and then drive to the starting point of the hike, about
45 minutes from camp. The start point is at (3500 ft / 1065 mt.)), and it takes
4-6 hours to reach the summit at 9,900’ (2890m). The trek begins at about 1am,
through scrubby bushes, and becomes increasingly steep as we trek through the
night. By dawn, you should reach the steep rocks at the edge of the crater rim,
to step into a world of lava chimneys (cornitos) venting sulphuric gases into
the air. The 30 minute climb to the summit affords you panoramic views
toward Ngorongoro, Empakai and the Ngorongoro
Highlands to Lake Natron, and even you can see the sun rise over
Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru. The descent (which takes 2.5 – 4 hours) is the most
gruelling portion of the trek. Trekking poles are recommended, and can be
rented for $5 each.
Lake Natron is one of
Tanzania’s Great Rift Valley soda lakes. The lake is also the only breeding
area for the 2.5 million Lesser Flamingoes, who flock along saline lakes in the
region, feeding on Spirulina (a blue-green algae with pink pigments). In the
morning we visit the lakeshore on foot, and in the afternoon we take a short
hike (about 30-45 minutes) up into the gorge to visit the Engare Sero
waterfall, to marvel at the beauty of these falls, or go for a swim! This area
is called ‘Engare Sero’, meaning “endless water” in the language of the Maasai.
Dinner and overnight in our private campsite.
Lesser
Flamingos at Lake Natron
Day 4:
– After breakfast, drive back to Arusha, via Engaruka, the village of our
company founder, Olemisiko, and Mto wa Mbu villages, along the base of the Rift
Valley Escarpment. The drive back to Arusha is about 4 hours.
For
more information visit www.africanaturaltours.com
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