Both guides and donkey handlers are Maasai tribesmen, and natives of the trekking area.    Our guides and donkey handlers have received training at reputable and licensed Outdoor Leadership Schools and have long field experience. During the evening campfires, the tribesmen share stories and their immense knowledge of the wilderness with you.  The adventure is supported by donkeys (zero pollution!) that carry the baggage.

Preparations
The trek can be taken by anyone who is physically fit. August is a cool month and temperatures range from 20 C on the highlands to about 35 C on the floor of the Great Rift Valley. The climb of Mt. Ol ‘Doinyo L’Engai will be the climax of this trek.  The climb takes about 5 hours up, and has a 2-3 hour descent.

Equipment 
Tanganyika Ancient Routes will provide tents, sleeping mats and other camping gear.  However, please bring the following items with you:  a warm sleeping bag, trekking boots (used and comfortable), a warm jacket, several pairs of socks, windbreaker jacket, camera, sun glasses and sun cream, and a walking stick.  During the trek you’ll carry your own day pack where items of a personal nature and a water bottle will be kept.  

NGORONGORO TREKKING TOUR (itinerary)

Day 1    Kilimanjaro – Arusha
Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport, you will be met & transferred to the hotel in town which is approx. 55km. Overnight at the hotel

Day 2
After breakfast, we depart to Ngorongoro with packed lunch, we descend down the 2000-ft walls of the Crater with packed lunch, a World Heritage Site and home to nearly 25,000 animals, for a game drives. Here you have a very real chance of spotting the big five: lion, elephant, endangered black rhino, buffalo and leopard plus countless other African mammal species. We return to the Lodge just before dusk. Dinner and overnight at the lodge, perched on the Crater Rim.

Day 3 Ngorongoro – Nainokanoka
After breakfast at 07:30a.m, the driver guides will go & organize the trekking with the Guides & Park armed Rangers, what we have arranged is that our vehicle depending on the amount of luggage will carry plus all the supplies to the camp, it thought to be a good idea to have our vehicle(s) incase we have a problem along the way, we will not have Maasai & Dockeys. So around 10:00a.m you will start walking to the first camp, The approx walking time is another 10 hours & 17km distance with packed lunch. Arriving at the camp just before dusk. Dinner & overnight at Nainokanoka Adventure Camp

Day 4   Nainokanoka – Bulati
After breakfast, you will start working again with packed lunch, your guides, ranger towards the next camp. The approx walking time is another 7.5 hours & 17.5 km distance. Arriving at the camp just before dusk. Dinner & overnight at Bulati Adventure Camp. At this camp, that where you will find the Maasai’s & Donkey’s ready to start walking the next day to Empakaai.

Day 5  Bulati – Empakaai Crater
After breakfast, you will start working again with packed lunch, your guides, ranger, maasai & the donkeys towards the next camp. The approx walking time is another 5.5 hours & 9 km distance. Arriving at the camp just before dusk. Dinner & overnight at Empakaai Crater Adventure Camp. At this area, you will also have the chance to walk at the Empakaai crater which is approx 1 hour walk.

Day 6  Empakaai – Acacia Camp
After breakfast, you will start working again with packed lunch, your guides, ranger, maasai & the donkeys towards the next camp. You will pass by a local village Nayobi on your way. The approx walking time is another 7.5 hours walk & 15km distance, whereby you will bid farewell to the park ranger/ Maasai & Donkeys who were with you during the hiking, as they have finished the trail and they have to go back to the Conservation. Arriving at the camp just before dusk. Dinner & overnight at Acacia Adventure Camp.

Day 7 Acacia – Engaresero – Lake Natron
Early morning, descend you will be met by our driver guides who will transfer you to the camp for shower, meals & Accommodations. Meals & Accommodations at Lake Natron Adventure Camp. If clients will be fit enough, they will walk down to the waterfalls

Note:  Now due to the recent earth tremous which we had experience at Ol Donyo Lengai, we may decide to Camp on the other side just for security reason, instead you may camp at Engaruka Ruin’s.

Day 8 Lake Natron – Arusha – Depart
After breakfast, drive back to Arusha lunch + Dayroom – transfer to Airport
 
   
NGORONGORO TREKKING ADVENTURE VERSION

Day 1 Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport, you will be met and transferred to the hotel which is approx. 55km. overnight at hotel

Day 2 After breakfast at 7:30a.m you will depart to Ngorongoro Conservation Area arriving lunch. After lunch, afternoon remains for leisure at the lodge. You have the option of doing the Circle hike which can be done either at 08:00a.m or 02:00p.m and it takes approx. 2-3 hours. Dinner and overnight at Ngorongoro Lodge, perched on the Crater Rim.

Day 3
After breakfast at 8:00a.m, you will descend down the 2000-ft walls of the Crater, a World Heritage Site and home to nearly 25,000 animals, for a game drives. Here you have a very real chance of spotting the big five: lion, elephant, endangered black rhino, buffalo and leopard plus countless other African mammal species. We return to the Lodge just before dusk. Dinner and overnight at Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge, perched on the Crater Rim.
On this day you will be spending the night at this lodge which will be easier to start the trekking the next morning with Maasai & Dockeys.

Day 4
Ngorongoro – Makaseni Camp
After breakfast at 07:30a.m, the driveguides will drive to where the Maasai & Dockeys + the park armed ranger who will also be escorting you. Ready to assemble the equipments and then around 10:00a.m you will start walking to the first camp, the walking distance takes up to 5 hours as it’s a 9km distance with packed lunch. Arriving at the camp just before dusk. Dinner & overnight at Makeseni Adventure Camp.

Day 5 Makaseni – Nainokanoka
After breakfast, you will start working again with packed lunch, your guides, ranger, maasai & the donkeys towards the next camp. The approx walking time is another 5 hours 8km. Arriving at the camp just before dusk. Dinner & overnight at Nainokanoka Adventure Camp. If clients are fit enough, they can walk to Olmoti Crater & back, it’s a 1.5 hours drive distance which will take approx. 3 hours, but this will only depend on the time too.

Day 6 Nainokanoka – Bulati
After breakfast, you will start working again with packed lunch, your guides, ranger, maasai & the donkeys towards the next camp. The approx walking time is another 7.5 hours & 17.5km distance. Arriving at the camp just before dusk. Dinner & overnight at Bulati Adventure Camp.

Day 7 Bulati – Empakaai Crater
After breakfast, you will start working again with packed lunch, your guides, ranger, maasai & the dockeys towards the next camp. The approx walking time is another 5.5 hours & 9 km distance. Arriving at the camp just before dusk. Dinner & overnight at Empakaai Crater Adventure Camp.   At this area, you will also have the chance to walk at the Empakaai crater which is approx 1 hour walk. 

Day 8 Empakaai – Acacia Camp
After breakfast, you will start working again with packed lunch, your guides, ranger,  Maasai & the donkeys towards the next camp. You will pass by a local village Nayobi on your way. The approx walking time is another 7.5 hours walk & 15km distance. Arriving at the camp just before dusk. Dinner & overnight at Acacia Adventure Camp;  On this day you will bid farewell to the park ranger as he has finished his trail and has to go back to the Conservation.

Day 9 Acacia – Lake Natron
After breakfast, you will now depart towards the final camp which is more like getting down after the long hikes. Approx walking time 10 hours & the distance is 20km arriving at Engaresero whereby you will bid farewell to the Maasai & Donkeys who were with you during the hiking. You will also find the driverguides awaiting for you ready to be transferred to the camp. Dinner & overnight at Lake Natron Camp.

Day 10 Lake Natron
After breakfast, you will have the morning walk to the waterfalls & visiting Lake Natron afternoon for leisure, just getting . Dinner & Overnight at Lake Natron Camp. Please note that if clients will be fit enough, we can offer them Ol Donyo Lengai Climb which is normally done at Midnight to arrive at the top early morning.
This can be arranged upon request.

Day 11 Lake Natron – Arusha – Depart
After breakfast, transfer to Arusha lunch + dayroom – depart