The Great Rift Valley Trek starts with a night at Empakai Crater in the Ngorongoro highlands, with stunning views inside the crater. Depending on your arrival time, it could include a descent into Empakai Crater. The following morning you trek to Leonotis Camp through picturesque Maasai villages. This is a remote camp just on the edge of the Gregorian Rift. After a magical night at Leonotis Camp, camping underneath the stars and golden acacia trees, you trek down the Rift Valley, with breath-taking views throughout. On arrival at the valley floor, you transfer by road to Lake Natron Camp. Here you can relax by the natural pool, have a massage and take part in activities such as waterfall gorge hikes, flamingo walks and seeing hominid footprints…and not to forget well deserved sundowners!
Note: We don't have a set price for this tour as it is usually incorporated into a longer Tanzania itinerary. Contact us to discuss your needs
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On arrival at Empakai crater there is the option to descend into the crater. This is around 40 minutes down. And, depending on season, can be quite slippery. But it’s certainly a great hike with stunning views. Flamingos often fly into the crater or feed in the lake at its base. Enjoy a hot shower before dinner.
Dinner & overnight Empakai Camp (full board)
Dawn rises and our lofty position affords a great sunrise. As we take breakfast our camp crew break camp and depart to send the camp ahead with donkeys. We then set off hiking with Maasai guides. The route is through picturesque Maasai villages and rolling hills. Enjoy a picnic lunch en route. Or if you are very fit, you can take a late lunch when you get to camp. This is a conservation project whereby we have leased a grove of magical acacia, and are protecting it from being cut down by putting in this camp. In the late afternoon there’s a hike up to a nearby viewpoint which is a great place for sundowners!
Dinner & overnight Leonotis Camp (full board)
The final section of hiking has two options. One is a shorter hike or the other is a longer more strenuous walk right along the rift wall. The views are spectacular with the active volcano Ol Doinyo Lengai dominating the foreground. This volcano affects almost everything from hydrology to lifestyle, as will become apparent. Once down on the rift valley floor we are picked up and transferred to Lake Natron Camp. Here you can jump in the natural pools to cool down. Sundowners are served at any number of beautiful points close to camp.
Dinner & overnight Lake Natron Camp (full board)
Lake Natron has a number of activities that are very easily combined with dawn walks and sundowners to the lakeshore. In the middle of the day there is the nearby Ngare Sero gorge that you can walk to or shorter hikes to waterfalls. The staff are on hand to make you stay as adventurous or relaxing as you want. See Lake Natron Camp for more info…
For the very active you can even climb Oldonyo Lengai. But this would be pretty exhausting and also an extra cost. We would recommend an Extra night in camp if you want to do this.
After breakfast there are some optional activities on offer before departure and picnic lunches are provided to ensure you reach your next destination well fed!
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