Ngorongoro Crater Safari: Wildlife & Lava

Zebras, wildebeests, and flamingos in the Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania

What to expect on this itinerary

There is quite simply no way to gain greater intimacy with the bush than on foot. This week-long tour of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area provides intrepid hikers with an unprecedented wilderness experience as they hike through the crater’s many regions. Follow ancient farming trails between numerous Maasai villages, before eventually summiting an active volcano for panoramic views of the plateau and the crater floor. This journey provides unparalleled and deeply personal opportunities to not only see, but also hear, smell, and feel this special corner of Tanzania.

Countries Visited

Tanzania

Places Visited

Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Arusha, Mount Lengai Volcano, Lake Natron

Suggested Duration

7 Days

Customizable Itinerary

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Day 1

Ngorongoro Crater – Explore the Crater before Setting up Camp

Welcome to Tanzania! This morning your plane will descend into the city of Arusha, between Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru. Wasting no time at all, a representative will meet you in the arrivals hall and drive you out of the city towards the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. You will dive right into the heart of this prehistoric looking region with a game drive on the crater floor; your Tanzania vacation and safari has begun! As you weave down the rain-forested slopes, the excitement will build as you peer between the branches in search of leopards, monkeys and prolific birdlife. The crater itself was formed over two-million years ago, when an ancient volcano collapsed in on itself. Today, it remains the world’s largest inactive volcanic caldera and acts as a natural enclosure for Africa’s most famous wildlife. You will drive across the crater floor towards the large central lake – which may just be the perfect first picnic location. As you eat lunch surrounded by herds of ungulates, pause to imagine the hike that lies in front of you.

After lunch, you will drive towards the Nainokanoka Village – your first camp. The campsite is located on the edge of an authentic Maasai village. After setting up camp, take a gentle walk to the edge of the Olmoti Crater. This seldom-visited crater neighbors the Ngorongoro Crater, and offers those who wander this way a great sense of solitude and independence in the wilderness. Peer over the crater lip with a pair of binoculars, and work to spot wildlife on the plains below. Walk around the edge and pass by the Munge River as it plunges over the crater wall, creating a stunning and powerful waterfall. Return slowly to the campsite where you will enjoy a fire-cooked dinner served under the stars. After a long day of travel, adventure and exhilaration, you will undoubtedly retire early tonight.

What's Included:

Accommodation
Transfer
Day 2

Kamnana Campsite – Hike Along Cattle Trails Through the Embulimbuli Depression

Day 3

Kamnana Campsite – Climb the Crater to the Empakaai Rim

Day 4

Naiyobi Village Campsite – Circle the Crater Rim

Day 5

Mwongoni Campsite – Leave the Highlands

Day 6

Ngare Sero Campsite – Hike to River Ngare Sero at the Base of Mount Lengai

Day 7

Arusha – Climb Mount Lengai for Sunrise and visit Lake Natron

Trip Highlights

  • Embark on a game drive across the crater floor, coming face to face with one of the densest populations of lions on the continent
  • Obtain a unique and in-depth understanding of the Ngorongoro region, exploring the many craters, plateaus, and active volcanos
  • Climb the slopes of the active Mount Lengai Volcano, looking down on the vast plains below as lava bubbles feet mere away
  • Camp on the outskirts of an authentic Maasai village, observing cultural performances
  • Venture into the untouched corners of the Ngorongoro Highlands, witnessing the landscape from rarely visited vantage points

Starting Price

$5,300 per person (excluding international flights)

Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.

What's Included

  • Accommodations
  • In-country transportation
  • Some or all activities and tours
  • Expert trip planning
  • 24x7 support during your trip

Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.

4.9

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Scott K.
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The trip to Kenya and Tanzania was absolutely amazing! The itinerary chosen for us was perfect and checked off all the things I wanted to accomplish on our first safari. Zicasso's tour agency was the best to work with. They offered great suggestions and were very responsive to all our questions and concerns!

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Glen B.
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We had a wonderful time in Tanzania. Zicasso's travel expert and her support staff provided all the necessary information we needed. Our driver in Tanzania was friendly and well informed.

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Judy E.
Kenya, Tanzania Tour Review: Wildlife, Plane Rides, 2 Weeks

We received excellent communication from Zicasso's travel agents. They were very prompt and proactive. The itinerary was prepared to meet our requests and matched our interests. Comprehensive planning and preparation for the trip were provided and all logistics were taken care of.

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John G.
Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania Vacation Review: Great Migration, 12 Nights

We can't speak highly enough about using Zicasso's travel specialist and her company. They put together a complicated package covering three completely separate areas and were able to connect us with local guides in each place. The guides they worked with were all fabulous, as were the locations we stayed at.

At one point, the airline that was handling our trip out changed the flight due to local conditions. I learned of this first through our specialist, who was immediately on the situation and kept us apprised of the change. The company provided us with an online portal that covered every part of our trip. It was constantly updated and we always knew who the next contact was in the new area.

Throughout the process, we had constant questions and changes. Our travel company was very pleasant and accommodating of our concerns. Their work was in the middle of a larger trip. Even though they were not handling the stops before and after their portion, they were more than happy to help out with those portions and added that information to our itinerary at no cost.

In a word, they were fabulous. If you want more detail on their work and my unqualified recommendation of them, please reach out and I'm happy to provide you with more information.

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Peter D.
Tanzania, Rwanda Tour Review: Wildlife, Gorilla Trekking, 13-Day Trip

Zicasso's travel agent is a superstar. We really didn’t know where to go and what to do in Africa, so his excellent advice was critical. We did exactly what he recommended and, as a result, our trip was just perfect. We are eternally grateful.

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Tim B.
Tanzania Tour Review: Wildlife, Nature, Scenery, 15 Days

The trip was very well planned. We received very good suggestions in the planning phase, with a very quick response time to our questions. The camps were all great.

Our guide was the best! We will definitely use Zicasso's trip planner in the future.

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Customizable Itinerary

This is a sample itinerary to inspire a personalized trip designed with your travel specialist.

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