Trekking Ngorongoro to Lake Natron - Ngorongoro Highland, Empakai Crater, Oldonyo Lengai, Lake Natron

4 nights

Trekking

Ngorongoro to Lake Natron

Ngorongoro Highland, Empakai Crater, Oldonyo Lengai, Lake Natron

This trek takes you from the Ngorongoro Highlands to Lake Natron and can be planned as a longer trek with 3 or 4 nights camping or as a shorter version with only just one night camping. From Ngorongoro Crater a road leads along many Maasai villages towards Empakai crater. The first part of the trek from Nainokanoka can therefore be shortened by driving you to Bulati (3 x camping) or to Empakai Crater, reducing the number of camping nights to 2 nights (Empakai and Accacia). If you only want to camp once, you need to overnight close to Empakai Crater and arrive early in the morning to start the trek from Empakai.

From Empakai the trail leads up to Accacia Camp and then past the majestic Oldonyo Lengai volcano down to Lake Natron.

There are only a few camps / lodges at Lake Natron. It is worth spending two nights here exploring the area. Especially those who want to climb Oldonyio Lengai need this extra time.

Travel by road to Empakai Camp

1 night Empakai Camp

Empakai Camp is located on the rim of Empakai Crater. Inside Empakai Crater there is a lake where there is a good chance to see flamingos all year round. If you like to walk down to the crater, you need about 30 minutes for the descent into the crater and 45 minutes for the ascent.

From the crater rim you already see Oldonyo Lengai in the far distance.

Abstieg in den Empakai Krater

Der Empakai Krater hat im Innern einen See, auf dem sich das ganze Jahr über Flamingos aufhalten. Wer hinuntersteigen will, der braucht etwa 30 Minuten für den Abstieg und 45 Minuten für den Aufstieg.

Walk to Leonitis Camp

1 night Leonitis Camp

Today's walk takes you to the Maasai village of Naiyobi, which is a good example of how the Maasai traditionally live. You have lunch at the village.

You are now leaving the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and the landscape is getting drier and warmer the closer you get to Lake Natron. Your next stop is Leonitis Camp.

Today's walk took about 6 hours.

Walking to Lengai, Engare Sero

The trek from Acacia Camp towards Lake Natron is quite easy as it mostly goes down. The active volcano Oldonyo Lengai majestically overlooks the Rift Valley and sometimes even spits some fire, a truly stunning volcano.

The landscape is now dustier and barren, in part still a relic from the last eruption of Lengai in 2007. The descent into the Rift Valley takes about 3-4 hours, depending on your fitness. At the bottom a vehicle will be waiting to take you to one of the camps in the Lake Natron area.

Look forward to a unique adventure!

Travel by road to Lake Natron Camp

2 nights Lake Natron Camp, Lake Natron

Lake Natron Camp is located right on the edge of Lake Natron on a strech of open grass land, with great views of Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano. There is a little stream of water that flows into Lake Natron, just some 50m from camp. A great place to relax and cool off your feet, especially if you have returned from a longer hike.

The camp offers ten sleeping tents, one common tent with the bar, dining and lounge area. The camouflaged Bedu shade nets were especially designed to keep the guest rooms cool during the day and protect them from the occasional strong winds. Each tent is furnished with full size beds, quality linen and blankets, tables and chairs and has its own running water, ensuite shower and compost toilet. This is certainly not a luxury camp and the exposure to nature can sometimes be a bit challenging, but the location and the views of the volcanoe are fantastic.

Location

Lake Natron is extremely remote and can only be reached after several hours’ drive from either Karatu/Lake Manyara or North Serengeti. The road leads from Mto wa Mbu through numerous villages towards Lake Natron (approx. 5 hours). The journey from Klein’s Gate (Serengeti) to Lake Natron takes 8 hours.