PLEASE NOTE: this activity is normally booked as part of a larger itinerary, whereby guests normally game drive in Ngorongoro before heading to Empakai Camp for our Great Rift Valley Trek.

Ngorongoro is around 2 hours drive from Empakai Camp and for those that are staying with us please ask our tour operator how to best incorporate Ngorongoro Crater game drives into your itinerary. For those staying with us multiple nights it is best to

a. Do Ngorongoro crater game drive before coming to Empakai Crater
b. Commit a full day to Ngorongoro game drives and end back here in the evening

| $POA| time: 1/2 day or full day|

A 2 night trek combined with 2 nights in Lake Natron. The trek starts with a night at Empakai Crater in the Ngorongoro highlands (and depending on arrival time can include a descent into Empakai) from which our guides lead you down the outer slopes of Empakai with the second night on the edge of the Gregorian rift. You then trek down the rift valley with stunning views throughout and once at the base are transferred for 2 nights at Lake Natron Camp (Ngare Sero) and use this as a base for activities such as seeing the flamingoes on Lake Natron, visiting the hominid footprints, delving deep into the Ngare Sero gorge or even just relaxing in camp and enjoying the natural plunge pools. For the very active you can also climb Oldonyo Lengai (extra cost).

All our adventures can be booked through a tour operator near you. Just ask them about Lake Natron Camp, Ngare Sero and our range of activities and adventures and specify the “Empakai to Lake Natron Trek”. You can add this adventure into your dates – all trips are customised to your dates.

Itinerary In Short

Day 1: Drive to Empakai. Empakai trek. Empakai Camp (fb)

Day 2: Trek to Leonotis Camp (fb) Trek 16km

Day 3: Trek to Lake Natron Camp with a pick up at the bottom of the rift valley. Lake Natron Camp (fb) Trek 12km, Drive 14km

Day 4: Relax and take part in activities at Lake Natron Camp (fb)

Day 5: Depart

| $ rates in documentation tab | time: 5 days |

A 1 night trek combined with 2 nights in Lake Natron. The trek starts at Empakai or just below and normally descending into Empakai crater is NOT POSSIBLE due to time constraints, instead you hike down to our Leonotis camp below Naiobi. For those that have the energy a trek to our Rift Valley sundowner spot is highly recommended, the views are amazing!

After one night in our remote fly camp at Leonotis Camp you then trek down the rift valley with stunning views throughout and once at the base are transferred for 2 nights at Lake Natron Camp (Ngare Sero) and use this as a base for activities such as seeing the flamingoes on Lake Natron, visiting the hominid footprints, delving deep into the Ngare Sero gorge or even just relaxing in camp and enjoying the natural plunge pools. For the very active you can also climb Oldonyo Lengai (extra cost).

Itinerary In Short

Day 1: Drive to Empakai. Trek into crater and trek to Leonotis Camp (fb) Trek 16km

Day 2:  Trek to Lake Natron Camp with a pick up at the bottom of the rift valley. Lake Natron Camp (fb) Trek 12km, Drive 14km

Day 3: Relax and take part in activities at Lake Natron Camp (fb)

Day 4: Depart

| $ rates in documentation tab | time: 4 days |

Empakai – Leonotis – Natron – Sanjan – Piyaya – Nasera Rock – Olduvai

Why this adventure?

For active types Tanzania has a lot to offer and this is one of the most dramatic hikes in East Africa. As well as the amazing scenery there is also the chance to witness the changing lives of the Maasai in both Ngorongoro and Natron.

This is a trek back through millennia of evolution from the relatively recent hominid footprints right by our Lake Natron Camp, all the way to Olduvai, commonly known as “one of the most important paleoanthropological sites in the world”, and home to evidence of our earliest ancestors. Each camp location and design is being targeted at guests that are looking for an off the beaten track experience, entirely respectful of the environment, and yet just enough comfort to ensure a superlative well balanced adventure.

Olduvai gorge is known as the ‘Cradle of Mankind’ and this trekking expedition courses routes either to or from this area incorporating the history of mankind, geology and landscapes spanning 250 million years. You can time this expedition with the migration in the short grass plains, or append a migration experience post / pre trek. Key features include hiking the Gregorian Rift valley, Sanjan Gorge, Gol, Olduvai Gorge and note we also have variations including Ol Karien Gorge.

1 EPIC week of ADVENTURE!

Itinerary In Short

Day 1: Drive to Empakai. Empakai trek. Empakai Camp (fb)

Day 2: Trek to Leonotis Camp (fb) Trek 16km

Day 3: Trek to Lake Natron Camp with a pick up at the bottom of the rift valley. Lake Natron Camp (fb) Trek 12km, Drive 14km

Day 4: Relax and take part in activities at Lake Natron Camp (fb)

Day 5: Trek & drive to Sanjan. Sanjan Camp (fb). Trek 6km. Drive 22km

Day 6: Trek & drive to Piyaya. Piyaya Camp (fb). Trek 10km. Drive 4km

Day 7: Pick up from Nasera rock. Drive 4km to pickup point then transfer to Serengeti or Ngorongoro or Ndutu

| $request | time: 7 days |

This is a trek back through millennia of evolution from the relatively recent hominid footprints right by our Lake Natron Camp, all the way to Olduvai, commonly known as “one of the most important paleoanthropological sites in the world”, and home to evidence of our earliest ancestors. Each camp location and design is being targeted at guests that are looking for an off the beaten track experience, entirely respectful of the environment, and yet just enough comfort to ensure a superlative well balanced adventure.

Olduvai gorge is known as the ‘Cradle of Mankind’ and this trekking expedition courses routes either to or from this area incorporating the history of mankind, geology and landscapes spanning 250 million years. You can time this expedition with the migration in the short grass plains, or append a migration experience post / pre trek. Key features include hiking the Gregorian Rift valley, Sanjan Gorge, Gol, Olduvai Gorge and note we also have variations including Ol Karien Gorge.

Itinerary In Short

Day 1: Lake Natron Camp

Day 2: Lake Natron Camp

Day 3: Trek & drive to Sanjan. Trek 6km. Drive 22km

Day 4: Trek to Piyaya. Trek 10km. Drive 4km

Day 5: Pick up from Nasera rock. Drive 4km

| $request| time: 5 days |

There are lots of opportunities to bird watch on around Empakai Crater and also down into the crater. Be sure to take some binoculars!