Day 1: Arrival & Orientation
Upon your arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, you will be transported to your accommodation, where your guide will meet you for a thorough briefing and equipment check.
Overnight at Ameg Lodge – including half-board (website: www.ameglodge.com)
Day 2: From Ameg Lodge to Ngorongoro Conservation Area / Nainokanoka Village
In the morning, depart from your hotel and journey to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Along the way, enjoy a wildlife safari in the crater. Afterward, ascend and proceed to your campsite. Get settled at your first campsite, and prepare for your first trek in the morning.
Overnight at Nainokanoka Village (limited shower and toilet facilities)
Day 3: Nainokanoka to Bulati
Set out from Nainokanoka with our guides, cooks, and donkeys for a day of hiking to Bulati Village. Keep an eye out for wild animals such as Thompson and Grants gazelle, zebras, and wildebeest. Where there are many animals, hungry jackals are not far away, and majestic eagles soar overhead. You'll trek for approximately 5 hours, covering a distance of 16 kilometers. Tonight, you will sleep at an elevation of 2,650 meters.
Overnight at Bulati Village (limited shower and toilet facilities)
Day 4: Bulati to Empakaai
This morning, embark on a trek to Empakaai. The journey provides stunning views of recent and ancient volcanic mountains, including Kilimanjaro, Meru, Olmoti Crater, and Lolmasin. The Empakaai Crater, with its 300-meter depth and a soda lake covering nearly half the floor, is a highlight. On the crater rim, you may spot bushbuck, buffalo, and blue monkeys, with clear-day views of Ol Doinyo L’Engai, Mount Kilimanjaro, and Lake Natron. At night, you might hear the calls of flamingos returning to their breeding grounds at Lake Manyara and Lake Natron. Expect to trek for 4-5 hours, covering a distance of 9 kilometers. Tonight's sleeping elevation is 3,100 meters.
Overnight at Empakaai Crater Rim (limited shower and toilet facilities)
Day 5: Empakaai to Acacia Camp
Descend into the Empakaai crater in the morning. A well-maintained path leads to the crater floor, where you'll find an alkaline/soda lake, a vital food source for flamingos, and a habitat for various antelope and aquatic birds. Returning to the crater rim, you'll leave the Ngorongoro Conservation Area behind as the landscape becomes drier and warmer on your way to Acacia Camp. Plan to trek for about 5 hours, covering a distance of 13 kilometers, and sleep at an elevation of 3,200 meters.
Overnight at Acacia Camp (limited shower and toilet facilities)
Day 6: Acacia Camp to Kamakia Camp
The final stage of the journey is relatively short and predominantly downhill. The morning provides fantastic views of Ol Doinyo L'Engai, Lake Natron, and the Rift Valley. Much of the rugged terrain is covered in ash from the 2007 eruption, adding to the surreal landscape. The trek descends into the dry and hot Rift Valley, where you can closely observe the dried-out ashes. Before lunch, you'll reach the waiting vehicles and transfer a short distance to the base of Mount Ol Doinyo L'Engai, the only active carbonite volcano in the world. Settle into camp for a few hours of rest before the optional activity of climbing the volcano tonight. Anticipate about 5 hours of trekking, covering 6 kilometers. Tonight's sleeping elevation is 2,600 meters. In the late afternoon, you have the opportunity to hike to the beautiful waterfalls in the area.
Overnight at Kamakia Camp (good shower and toilet facilities available)
Day 7: Ol Doinyo L’Engai Volcano - Night Ascent
Shortly after midnight, commence the climb up Ol Doinyo L’Engai, known as the Maasai’s Mountain of God. This ascent demands good physical fitness, as the path to the summit is quite steep, ascending from 800 meters to 3,000 meters. The ascent can take anywhere from 8 to 14 hours with no shade, so an early start is essential. Return to camp around 11:00 AM for brunch. Once back at camp, you have the afternoon to rest and recover from your climb. Expect to trek for 8 to 14 hours, covering a distance of 15 kilometers. Tonight's sleeping elevation will be 2,600 meters.
Overnight at Kamakia Camp (good shower and toilet facilities available)
Day 8: Lake Natron to Moshi
This morning, embark on the journey back to Moshi, which will occupy most of the day.
Overnight at Ameg Lodge – including half-board (website: www.ameglodge.com)
Day 9: Departure
Today, you will be transferred to Kilimanjaro Airport in time for your flight, or, if you've chosen to extend your Tanzanian adventure, begin the next leg of your journey!
