3 Day Great Rift Valley hike + Lake Natron

This is one of the most dramatic hikes in East Africa taking you through the diverse landscapes of The Great Rift Valley, providing a rare glimpse into a way of life that has defined this part of East Africa for centuries. The raw beauty of the Empakaai Crater, the Great Rift Valley and Lake Natron is simply breathtaking .

This 5 day (4 night) adventure is the perfect compliment to a safari for active types who’d like to get out of the vehicle, stretch their legs and explore this ancient landscape. It begins with a hike of the Empakaai Crater and Great Rift Valley and finishes with 2 nights in Lake Natron.

  • You will drive to the Empakaai Crater some 40km north-east of the Ngorongoro Crater in the Ngorongoro Highlands in time to do an afternoon hike, descending to the crater floor to experience the large alkaline soda lake. The lake is an important food source for the resident flamingoes which can be seen throughout the year.

    Accommodation: Camping
    Empakaai Campsite

  • Today you rise at dawn and set off after breakfast for a 16km hike to Acacia Campsite passing through picturesque Maasai villages and rolling hills .This less traversed trail is a unique way to witness the changing lives of the Maasai, coupled with a spectacular and expansive landscape. You will camp for the night in a grove of magical Acacia trees.

    Accommodation: Camping
    Acacia Campsite

  • Today you set off early for a 12km hike along the rift wall providing spectacular 360 degree views. Once down on the rift valley floor you will be collected by our drivers and transferred to Lake Natron where you will spend 2 nights relaxing and unwinding.

    Accommodation: Tented Lodge
    Lake Natron

  • Lake Natron has a number of activities that are very easily combined with dawn walks and sundowners and in the middle of the day there is the nearby Ngare Sero gorge that you can walk to options of long hikes to the source or shorter hikes to waterfalls. The scenery is a unique blend of arid volcanic rocks and lush tropical palms.

    The staff are on hand to make your stay as adventurous or relaxing as you wish.

    Accommodation: Tented Lodge
    Lake Natron

  • Return to Arusha.

    The return drive takes approximately 5 hours.

The landscape

  • Empakaai Crater

    A caved in volcanic caldera, Empakaai Crater stands at 300m in height and more than 6 km in width. Rippling at its heart is Empakaai Lake, an 85m deep alkaline pool that envelops three quarters of the Crater’s floor. This stunning view is just a short stroll from your campsite.

  • Maasai Communities

    The Great Rift Valley hike passes through picturesque Maasai villages and rolling hills. This less traversed trail is a unique way to witness the changing lives of the Maasai, coupled with a spectacular and expansive landscape.

    Maasai bomas spread around the Lake Natron area, but the main central village is few kilometres away to the west at the base of the escarpment. The village is named Ngare Sero, which means dappled water. This village gets its name from the river flowing out of the escarpment through a spectacular gorge that is both arid and lush.

  • Ol doinya lengai

    Views of Ol doinya lengai begin to emerge and dominate throughout the trail, teasing you with the possibility of conquering this majestic active volcano. Ol doinya lengai means "mountain of god" in maasai language and this mountain lives up to its name. At 2890 metres this is Tanzania’s only active volcano. Ascending begins around midnight so that you reach the summit for sunrise. The round trip takes approximately 10-12 hours, accompanied by an experienced local guide.

  • Lake Natron

    Lake Natron is 56 KM long, 24 KM wide and contains salt, soda and magnesite deposits. The lakes warm water is an ideal breeding ground for the rift valley flamingos. Nestled between rolling volcanic hills and deep craters, Lake Natron sits at the lowest point of the rift valley. The raw beauty of the Natron conservation area is breathtaking.

    The Lake Flats surrounding the waters edge contain small streams, lakes and hills that provide a variety of hospitable environments for birds that thrive in the alkali oasis. You can take evening or morning walks to the lake, pond and marsh for bird-watching.

    The beguiling lesser flamingo feed on algae found in soda lakes across eastern Africa but choose to breed almost exclusively at Lake Natron.

  • Ngare Sero Gorge

    Full or half day gorge walks are available to Ngare Sero waterfalls, a great activity for relief from the midday heat. The scenery is a unique blend of arid volcanic rocks and lush tropical palms.

  • Hominid Footprints

    Walk to the hominid footprints where new research has now confirmed these track-ways to be between 5-19,000 thousand years old, making these a integral part of the story of man in the area.

  • Relax and swim

    Cool off in the natural plunge pools.

Lake Natron Ngare Sero

Lake natron tented camp (Ngare Sero) is a luxury eco camp nestled by a natural spring providing a pure sense of escapism from the modern world.

This ecological camp is set in one of the most visually dramatic locations in the world, home to the Maasai, abundant wildlife and over 1 million flamingos.