7 Days - Walking Safari - Empakai Trail
Enjoy your 7-day walking safari to Nainokanoka via the Empakai trail. The walking safari to the Ngorongoro highland, Nainokanoka village, Bullati village, Empakai crater, and to Bullati. Local people take the initiative in small tourism ventures. The walking safari helps you get the real feel of both the cultural and natural richness of Tanzania. On your hiking journey, explore the volcanic highlands of Empakaai Crater. Located in the Ngorongoro highlands, filled with dense forest and diverse wildlife, the Empakai Crater is an ideal place for a half-day hiking tour. Empakai Crater is rich with herbs, birds, buffalo, baboons, leopards, waterbuck, and flamingos. Experience a walking safari to explore Tanzania from close with our professional guides at Tanzania Adventures and Safaris.
7 Days - Walking Safari - Empakai Trail
Check out the travel blueprint for your 7-day Walking Safari via Empakai Trail
Day 1: Arusha – Lake Manyara – Ngorongoro Crater
Day 2: Ngorongoro – Nainokanoka Village
Day 3: Nainokanoka Village – Bullati Village
Day 4: Bullati Village – Empakai Crater
Day 5: Empakai Crater – Bullati Village
Day 6: Bullati – Nainokanoka
Day 7: Nainokanoka – Arusha
OUR itinery
Experience Your 7-Day Walking Safari via the Empakai Trail with Our Expert Guides
DAY 1
Arusha – Lake Manyara – Ngorongoro Crater
Early in the morning, we start our drive to Ngorongoro through the Rift Valley, passing spectacular scenery and Maasai villages. You can spot monkeys, giraffes, elephants, and flamingos at Manyara viewpoint. In the afternoon, we arrive at our private campsite in Karatu. After lunch, we leave for Ngorongoro Crater for an afternoon game drive.
Dinner and Overnight Stay at Karatu Kudu Campsite
Distance: 200 km from Arusha city centre
Duration: 6 to 7 hours
Meals: snacks, lunch, and dinner
Accommodation: Luxury tents
DAY 2
Ngorongoro – Nainokanoka Village
Early in the morning, we go on a game drive in the Ngorongoro Crater. In the afternoon, we circle the crater and drive into the vast, rarely visited central Highlands to Olmoti Crater (about a 1-hour drive). It’s an option for an easy hike to the crater rim and down to waterfalls.
Dinner and overnight at the Nainokanoka Campsite
Distance:16 km of tours
Duration: 3-4 hours
Meals: breakfast, snacks, lunch, and dinner
Accommodation: luxury tent
DAY 3
Nainokanoka Village – Bullati Village
Today, our hike will take us to the Embulmbul depression following the cattle trails through forests and grasslands. The depression is a level, flat area with short grass where animals like buffalo, zebras, and gazelles graze.
Dinner and Overnight at Bulati campsite
Distance:17.6 km of tours
Duration: 7 to 8 hours
Meal: breakfast, snacks, lunch, and dinner
Accommodation: luxury tents
DAY 4
Bullati Village – Empakai Crater
As we finish our breakfast, we start trekking through open grassland, bushland, and forests. We gradually move toward the rim of Empakai crater. Then we come down into the crater floor, filled with dense equatorial forests, grass, and a volcanic lake. You can spot animals like buffalo, reedbuck, and various bird species near the lake.
Dinner and overnight camp on the crater rim.
Distance: 8.5 km of tours
Duration: 4 to 5 hours
Meals: breakfast, snacks, lunch, and dinner
Accommodation: luxury tent
DAY 5
Empakai Crater – Bullati Village
The crater rim is very stunning with an average height of about 600 meters above the East African plain. Keep enjoying the astonishing majesty of Empakai Crater, which is very amazing, having impressive features in its own unique way. Today, we leave the crater for Bullati village for dinner and an overnight stay.
Distances: 12 km of tour
Durations: 4 to 5 hours
Meals: breakfast, snacks, lunch, and dinner
Accommodation: luxury tents
DAY 6
Bullati – Nainokanoka
The terrain is very scenic, often passing through Maasai land and offering views of the surroundings, highland landscape, and a donkey carrying luggage.
Distance:18 km of tours
Duration:7 hours
Meals: breakfast, snacks, lunch, and dinner
Accommodation: Luxury tents
DAY 7
Nainokanoka – Arusha
In the morning, you will have breakfast, then start morning tours in the Maasai settlement, back to the city, this is the time to say goodbye, Nainokanoka, with the best unforgettable experience and memorable tours, we drive you to the Arusha city in the hotel or airport for Departure.
Distance: 220 km
Duration: 7 hours
Meals: breakfast, snacks, lunchbox
Make your Dream Safari Come True
This safari explores northern Tanzania’s premier national parks, starting with a convenient domestic flight from Zanzibar
Include
- Accommodation
- Meals
- Transport 4x4 vehicles
- English-speaking guide
- Drinks mineral water
- Activities: daily game drives
- Park fees
- Ranger fees
- Donkey and escort fees
- Staff salaries
Exclude
- Tips and gratuities
- Transfers (available as an optional add-on)
- Hotel (available as an optional add-on)
- Liquors, beers, and bottled beverages
- Tanzania Visa
- Personal trekking equipment like hiking boots, clothes, sleeping bags, etc. (available for renting)
- The government imposed an increase in taxes and or Park Fees.
- Meals not listed in the itinerary
- Personal costs (e.g., laundry, telephone, beverages, etc.)
- International and domestic flights
- Travel insurance
FAQ
The best time to experience a walking safari is during the dry months between June and December. Avoid wet months to avoid muddy trails.
On your way to the walking safari, you can see buffalo, hyena, monkeys, elephants, and leopards occasionally. Chances are high of spotting flamingos near the soda lake.
Yes. A walking safari to the Empakai Crater demands the company of a safari guide and armed ranger. While walking through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, an armed ranger will accompany you.
Yes. You can go camping. You need to book the camp on the crater ring in advance.
Trekking to Empakai train requires a certain level of physical fitness, as the route traverses forested slopes.
