11 Days Ngorongoro Highlands Walking & Trek

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11 Days Ngorongoro Highlands Walking & Trek Overview

The rugged and beautiful Ngorongoro Highlands offers one of the finest blends of culture, landscapes, and wildlife in Tanzania. The best way to experience the highlands is no doubt on foot. Its diverse landscapes consisting of elevated volcanoes and craters, forests, and vast grassy plains offer a remarkable experience for those hiking through this area. Hikers will experience first-hand how the Maasai people, who inhabit these highlands and the wildlife, coexist. The 57 km journey through the highlands takes us to the edge of the Great Rift Valley where we then descend to the base of the escarpment wall right on the foot of Mt. Ol-Doinyo Lengai. Known to the Maasai as the “Mountain of God” OlDoinyoLengai is one of the most unique active volcanoes in the world. Our trek ends up on the shores of the beautiful Lake Natron, an alkaline lake that serves as the breeding ground for the Lesser Flamingo.

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Free Safari Packing List with gear necessary and recommendations from Ahsante Tours Team

Did You Know ?

Tarangire National Park: Known for its giant baobab trees and large elephant herds.

Day 1: Arriving in Tanzania

Day 2: Materuni Waterfall, Coffee & cultural Tour

As the journey begins, we’ll venture deep into the lush greenery of the Kilimanjaro region, where the Materuni Waterfalls await. Cascading from a height of 150 meters, these majestic falls will leave you in awe of nature’s power and beauty. Feel the mist on your face as you stand in the presence of this natural wonder, surrounded by the sights and sounds of the vibrant rainforest. With your Materuni Waterfalls and Coffee Tour, you’ll gain new insights into the local way of life, forge meaningful connections with the Tanzanian people, and create memories that will last a lifetime. Join us on this extraordinary journey, and let Ahsante Tours be your gateway to a whole new world of exploration and adventure. Later on, you’ll be transferred to Karatu for your accommodation.

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation

Weruweru River Lodge.

Day 3: Kikuletwa Hot Spring

Morning: Your guide will pick you up from your accommodation in Moshi and drive you to the picturesque Hotspring Kikuletwa, also known as Chemka Hot Springs. Located amidst lush greenery, this natural OASIS is a hidden gem in Tanzania. Enjoy a refreshing swim in the crystal-clear, turquoise waters of the hot springs, surrounded by beautiful trees and tropical foliage.

Afternoon: Indulge in a delicious picnic lunch at Hotspring Kikuletwa, prepared by your safari guide. Take some time to relax and soak in the serene ambience of this tranquil spot. You can also explore the surrounding area or interact with the friendly locals before heading back to Karatu for your good accommodation.

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Accommodation

Karatu Forest Tented Campsite.

Day 4: Olmoti Crater Trek

Your day starts off with a 2-hour drive to Nainokanoka Village where you will be based tonight. During your transfer, if it’s not too foggy, you may get great views of the Ngorongoro Crater from the viewpoint on the edge of the crater rim. You then proceed along the Henry FosbRooke Road through the dense forest towards Nainokanoka, where you will get to see wildlife such as buffalos and wildebeest. Today you will explore the Olmoti Crater and Munge waterfalls on a 3-hour hike. The Olmoti Crater is a shallow grassy crater where the Munge River originates.

Total Walking Time

3hrs

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner.

Accommodation

Camping at Nainokanoka Campsite

Day 5: Trek from Nainokanoka Village to Bulati Village

We depart Nainokanoka camp at 0800hrs and commence our trek to Bulati Village. We will pass a few Maasai Bomas on our way. We will have a packed lunch halfway to Bulati. We cross the Elbulbul depression, a vast grassland with no trees, but many zebras can be seen grazing, wildebeests, and raptors due to the many mole rat mounds in the area. We arrive in Bulati early in the afternoon for rest and refreshments. In the late afternoon, Maasai Boma visit the village of Bulati where we will be spending the night.

Total Walking Distance

14km

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner.

Accommodation

Camping at Bulati Campsite

Day 6: Trek from Bulati Village to Empakaai Crater

Today you will change the environment from temperate grassland to a montane forest zone on the crater rim. Plenty of spectacular panoramic views of the landscape. We packed lunch halfway through the trek. In the afternoon you will descend into the crater where you can see lesser flamingos who reside on the crater soda lake. The Caldera is 300m deep and 6kms wide. The trek is roughly 45 minutes down and an hour’s walk back up. Today we will be camping right on the rim of the Empakaai crater.

Total Walking Distance

13km

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner.

Accommodation

Empakaai Campsite

Day 7: Trek from Empakaai Crater to Acacia

After breakfast, we walk a short way around the Empakaai crater to stretch our legs and get some good panoramic photos of the caldera. The first half of the trek is to Nayobi village where you will stop for lunch. From Nayobi we head down to Acacia Campsite. You will head out on a late afternoon walk to view the surrounding area and take photos of the majestic Mt. Ol-Doinyo Lengai, a Maasai name for the “Mountain of God”. This mountain is unique amongst geologists because it is the only active volcano on Earth that erupts with carbonatite, a type of igneous rock rich in carbonates such as calcite and dolomite.

Total Walking Distance

15km

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner.

Accommodation

Acacia Campsite

Day 8: Acacia trek to Kamakia Campsite Lake Natron

We finish off our last day of trekking with a very early start from Acacia. The terrain is very dry and recently covered by ash from the 2008 Ol-doinyo Lengai eruption. We maximize our trek in the early hours of the day to avoid the late morning sun intensity and heat. We descend the Rift Valley Escarpment, via Pembe ya Swala to the base of Ol Doinyo Lengai. At the base we are picked up by our vehicles and transferred to our camp in Lake Natron for Lunch. Late afternoon excursion to Lake Natron shores to view the Lesser Flamingos in their breeding habitat or for the fitter ones a hike up to the Engare Sero waterfalls.

Total Walking Distance

15km

Meals

Lake Natron Tented Camp

Accommodation

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included

Day 9: Ol Doinyo Lengai Climbing

After breakfast visit the waterfalls and lunch at the campsite afternoon visit Lake Natron. Midnight time when you will drive to the bottom of Oldoinyo Lengai for climbing. Climbing Oldoinyo Lengai in the remote wilderness area of northern Tanzania is an adventure of a life time. The trekking is very challenging, steep not ideal for everyone but for fit people. The steepness and existence of the hot sun during the day result to a high temperature which causes climbing oldoinyo lengai to be challenging. Due to these facts we highly recommend to start the climb in the early morning hours at 01:00 am or 02:00 am so that you reach the summit before the sunrise when it is cool.

The total time requires to climb Oldoinyo Lengai up and down is approximately 6 to 7 hours.

Oldoinyo lengai is part of the volcanic system of the East African Rift Valley which produces natro-carbonatite lava. This mountain has been experiencing occasional volcanic eruptions which makes the locals who lives in the near neighborhood to call it the mountain of God. They actually name it the mountain of Gold “Oldoinyo Lengai” due to the presence of fire and ashes occur during the eruption.

Elevation

2,960m / 9,711 ft.

Meals

7 hrs

Accommodation

2 Vertical kilometers

Day 10: Oldoinyo lengai Base camp to Osiligilai Maasai Lodge

After the descending you will be transferred by Ahsante Tours driver to your beautiful Maasai Lodge (West Kilimanjaro) for the good rest. You will have time to hear the history of Maasai People from the Elder Mzee Clement the Famous Maasai Babu. He knows very well the history Of Maasai People and their culture. He will teach you how to hunt and dance in Maasai Style. You will have time to swim in the midst of Mount Kilimanjaro and mount Meru.

Total Walking Distance

3hrs

Meals

Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner.

Accommodation

Osiligilai Maasai Lodge.

Day 11: Departure in Tanzania.

Still have questions?

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Cost Includes

Cost Excludes

      EXCELLENT  
   Based on 212 reviews 
    
 
 
 
   
 
 
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   Priya S 
 
 
 
 Verified A Memorable Safari - Thanks to the Wonderful Team at Ahsante Tours
We had a fantastic experience with Ahsante Tours on our Tanzania safari. Everything was well organized, and the trip went smoothly from beginning to end. Holyfield Edwin, our main contact, deserves special recognition. He was warm, professional, responsive, and incredibly helpful, patiently answering all our questions both before the trip and while we were on safari. When I accidentally left my Kindle at Rafiki Retreat in Arusha, he went out of his way to arrange for it to be retrieved and sent to Kigali, our final destination. That kind of personal attention really stood out. Our guide and driver for nine days, Aston, was equally outstanding. He worked incredibly hard every day, was always patient and professional, and made us feel safe on the road. His knowledge of wildlife and ability to spot animals were impressive—we saw the Big Five multiple times! Most of all, we loved his genuine enthusiasm. He seemed just as excited about each sighting as we were, which made the experience even more enjoyable. He was also considerate and unobtrusive, allowing us to take in each moment at our own pace. The accommodations were generally three-star, and we enjoyed most of the bush camps and hotels along the way. Ahsante also coordinated our Rwanda extension to see the gorillas through Mist Safari, which was another wonderful experience. Brian K., our contact in Rwanda, was super responsive and easy to communicate with. All in all, we were very happy with Ahsante Tours. The team was reliable, thoughtful, and professional, and the personal touches made a real difference. We would absolutely recommend them to anyone planning a Tanzania safari, especially if you value good communication, a knowledgeable guide, and a team that genuinely cares about your experience. Thank you, Ahsante Tours, for a trip filled with wonderful experiences and memories we will cherish for years to come!
  
 
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   Sam S 
 
 
 
 Verified Trip of a lifetime!
I went with Ahsante Tours via Explore on a trip to climb Kilimanjaro (Lemosho route) followed by safaris in Lake Manyara, the Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire. All the guides were very friendly and nice to talk to - I got along with all of them very well. For the Kilimanjaro climb, I was consistently impressed by how above and beyond all the staff went to make sure we had everything and we were comfortable. The level of care, service and concern for our health and safety was unmatched. For the safaris, our guide was very knowledgeable with what everything was and was amazing at spotting even the smallest animals in secretive hiding spots. I think this was the best trip of my life and I will always remember it incredibly fondly!
  
 
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   Sophie N 
 
 
 
 Verified Incredible
An incredible experience with the best team of guides and porters we could have asked for. They made it fun, interesting and ensured we were safe and happy at all times. I cannot thank Mussa, Joshua , Michael , Juma , Uhuru and the rest of the team enough for the trip of a lifetime. Thank you 🙏
  
 
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   Blair T 
 
 
 
 Verified 10/10 review for a great company
Uk - Scotland based review. This is my second time using Ahsante tours and they can’t be faulted. I booked Kilimanjaro in 2025 with them and they were brilliant from the first initial contact. They planned out the trip according to my dates etc and were in communication throughout until I arrived. I used them again this year to book a safari trip for my partners birthday. Again, from initial contact their communication was excellent. I provided them with how I’d like my trip to look and executed it to perfection. We stayed with a Masai tribe before starting safari trip and this was a 10/10 experience. Would recommend. We thereafter visited Tarangire, Lake Manyara and then Serengeti for safari game drives. An experience that will last a life time that was made possible by using Ashante Tours. All accommodation we stayed in was clean, staff all friendly, food was good, all packed lunches provided for game drives and they were good as well. We had a safari guide Godwin, who was with us for 6 days. He was so friendly, so knowledgeable and just an overall really nice guy. Couldn’t have picked a better guide myself. The Weru Weru lodges, where you stay when booking with Ahsante is clean, good food and staff very friendly (both times). Would recommend anyone looking to book a trip to climb Kilimanjaro or safaris to book through Ahsante tours. Both times zero complaints. If I was to return to Tanzania I will use again. Ahsante to all - Ahsante Tour staff 👏🏻
  
 
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   Ukiyo 
 
 
 
 Verified Perfect!
Professional, flexible, and friendly team. We spent 17 days with this company. From Kili to Safaris, everything was organized and managed to a perfection. Big thanks to Daniel, Benson and Derick.
  
 
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   Shabana S 
 
 
 
 Verified They didn’t just get us to the summit — they got us through Kilimanjaro
I don’t think you fully understand the importance of choosing the right Kilimanjaro team until you are actually on that mountain. We climbed with Ahsante Tours in September 2026, and there are moments from those days that I will genuinely never forget. Kilimanjaro tests you in ways that go far beyond physical fitness. There are long days, altitude, exhaustion, freezing temperatures, moments of complete awe and moments when your mind and body simply do not want to cooperate anymore. And during those moments, the people around you become incredibly important. Our Ahsante team were exceptional. The guides knew when to push us, when to slow us down, when we needed encouragement and when we simply needed someone beside us. The porters were absolute heroes. Watching how hard this team works while still greeting us with warmth, humour and encouragement every day gave me an entirely new level of respect for what goes into getting someone up Kilimanjaro. Summit night is where I understood it most. By that point, this wasn’t a holiday or even just a trek anymore. It was mental, physical and emotional. There were moments when reaching Uhuru Peak felt impossibly far away, but our team never stopped believing that we could get there. And we did. I stood at Uhuru Peak knowing that although my legs had carried me there, I absolutely had not got there alone. The organisation, food, camps and logistics were all handled extremely well, but what separates a good Kilimanjaro company from an unforgettable one is the people. These are the people who see you exhausted, cold, emotional and completely stripped of your usual comforts — and somehow keep you moving forward. To everyone at Ahsante who carried, cooked, guided, encouraged, laughed with us and quite literally walked this journey with us: asante sana. Kilimanjaro gave me one of the hardest and most extraordinary experiences of my life, and I will always be grateful that Ahsante Tours was part of it. Five stars, without hesitation. ❤️
  
 
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   Heena K 
 
 
 
 Verified Climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro
My Kilimanjaro Experience with Ahsante Tours 🏔️ Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro was something I wanted to do for the adventure, but the experience turned out to mean so much more than I expected. From the beginning, Ahsante Tours made the process smooth and well organised. The communication before the climb, the arrangements, and the preparation all gave me confidence going into the journey. The climb itself was challenging—physically. But having a supportive and experienced team around me made a huge difference. The guides were encouraging throughout the entire climb, constantly checking on us, reminding us to take it *pole pole*, and making sure we were comfortable and safe. The porters were equally incredible. Seeing how much they carried and how hard they worked every day gave me an entirely different appreciation for the people behind the climb. Summit night was by far the toughest part. It was cold, dark, exhausting and mentally challenging, but every step brought me closer to the goal. Finally reaching Uhuru Peak at **5,895 metres** was a feeling I honestly cannot put into words. After all the preparation, tiredness, doubts and long days, standing at the summit and knowing **I DID IT** was unforgettable. But what I loved most about this experience is that Kilimanjaro taught me things beyond climbing a mountain. It taught me to appreciate my comfort at home, to trust my body, to keep moving at my own pace, and to understand that sometimes you are capable of much more than you think. I am genuinely grateful to the entire Ahsante Tours team for being part of such an important experience for me. From the first step to the final descent, their support contributed greatly to making this journey memorable. Thank you, Ahsante Tours, for an unforgettable Kilimanjaro experience.
  
 
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   Duncan 
 
 
 
 Verified Unforgettable trip (in a good way)
I joined an Ahsante group climbing the Kilimanjaro Machame route. Ascending isn’t easy, but the Ahsante team worked hard to maximise the chances of a successful ascent. Out of our group, nearly all managed to get to the top (something that isn’t usual). The guides were superb - supportive, very experienced and very friendly. Our team contained a medical doctor who was very reassuring and who was conducting research on the effects of altitude on the body. The Ahsante team are very welcoming, experienced and knowledgeable. The friendliness of the group, the stunning scenery and the Ahsante team made this an unforgettable trip.
  
 
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   seangamage 
 
 
 
 Verified Life long memories.
Our experience was split into two parts. Firstly, the Ahsante team got me and my friend to Uhuru Peak. Nine days, Northern Circuit - absolutely amazing. Professional, supportive and fun; we could not have asked for more. After the climb, Ahsante got four of us from Weru Weru River Lodge to Ngorongoro, Tarangire and Central/Northern Serengeti. Knowledgeable guides, great camps - saw the Great Migration over the Mara River, lions, rhino, cheetah, elephant, zebra, crocodile, hippo, giraffe. Life long memories.
  
 
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   mark s 
 
 
 
 Verified Safari-tastic!
Our 5 day Safari was amazing (if a little too long!) We saw such a great variety of animal life , and our drivers/ guides Godwin and Derek were very knowledgeable and could answer pretty much every question we asked, adding more information where they could. Godwin is a very skilled driver ( Derek is still training so not allowed to drive with customers) and handled those bumpy roads well. It was also great that he had car mechanic knowledge to sort out a few problems with our jeep along the way. They are both very professional but also friendly and we really enjoyed our time with them!