Ngorongoro Conservation Area is home to the world famous Ngorongoro crater, as well as many other beautiful places. The entire Conservation Area extends to the borders of Serengeti National Park on the west, reaches Lake Eyasi on the south and on the northern side it is crowned by the sacred mountain of Maasai, Ol Doinyo Lengai.
Very close to Oldoinyo Lengai the mother nature created yet another wonder. Empakaai Crater is a volcanic crater, so with its rich soils it gives life to lush green vegetation around its rim and on its slopes. At the bottom of the Empakaai Crater lies a beautiful lake that is shaped as a perfect oval almost the entire year round. The water here is rich in salt and minerals, and therefore cannot be used by humans. But it is a perfectly fine environment for flamingos and for buffaloes, who come to treat themselves to some grass and a lick of salt here.
There are Maasai villages on both sides of the Empakaai Crater. Maasai people cross by foot from one side to the other, on market days or when visiting family. Their paths are carved into the landscape, as they descend to the bottom, walk around the lake and ascend on the other side.
How do we reach Empakaai Crater?
The best way is to depart in the morning, not later than 8am, from a public campsite or a lodge next to Ngorongoro crater. We will make a short visit to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area Headquarters to arrange our permits. And then we will start driving past the magnificent Ngorongoro crater, further north. On our way we will admire beautiful open valleys surrounded by green mountains. We will pass by traditional Maasai villages and see their cattle grazing on immense land, sometimes next to zebra. In one of the villages a local ranger will be waiting for us.
As we move closer to the Empakaai Crater, the open valleys will change into thick bush. And sometimes our vehicle will have to stop and wait until a herd of Maasai cows passes through and clears the way for us to continue our journey.
It takes about 50 km from the Ngorongoro Conservation Area headquarters to reach Empakaai Crater. Once arrived to the place where one of Maasai trails start, we will begin a descent of an overwhelming beauty, following the lead of the local Maasai ranger.
In the morning there will be clouds sitting along the crater rim. As we make our way down to the Empakaai Lake, the skies will be clearing. If we continue in a relaxed but steady pace, then it will be lunchtime by the time we are at the bottom. A good opportunity to enjoy a quick lunch and make a short walk along the lake line. Black sand, white salt, pink flamingos, green forest, blue skies, perfect oval of the lake – this is the world how it was created.
Empakaai Crater is a perfect starting point for a three days hiking trip to Oldoinyo Lengai. We will follow the Maasai trails and cross the Empakaai Crater, and from there continue to the sacred Oldoinyo Lengai.
We invite you to make this exciting trip with Empakaai Cultural Safari. After all, we chose to be named after the Empakaai Crater! So this place is very special for us and we are very proud to guide our guests there.
Want to start planning your trip to Empakaai Crater or to Oldoinyo Lengai? Just contact us on empakaai.cultural.safari@gmail.com
And on our Instagram account @empakaai_cultural_safari you will see more photos featuring Empakaai Crater. We appreciate your likes and follows 😉