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Crater World: Ngorongoro, Empakaai and Crater Floor Safari
Crater World: Ngorongoro, Empakaai and Crater Floor Safari
This 3-day adventure is perfect for those who want to explore the stunning Ngorongoro Crater without the hassle of constantly changing locations. You’ll stay in one comfortable tented lodge for two nights, using it as your base to explore the area’s unique highlights. Day 1 kicks off with a scenic drive from Arusha and a ranger-led walk along the crater’s rim to enjoy the panoramic view of the Ngorongoro caldera. Day 2 offers a hike through Empakai Crater, focusing on the stunning landscapes. On Day 3, enjoy a safari within Ngorongoro Crater, home to the densest population of wildlife in the world. Staying inside a UNESCO World Heritage site adds an extra layer of magic to the experience!
Safari Tour Price
Crater World
Price per person
Crater World
Price per person
BASED IN TANZANIA
Safari Itinerary
The group arrives at Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO). Participants are met by a representative of Altezza Travel and transferred to a hotel in Arusha.
Note: Check-in starts at 2:00 PM.
Meal Plan:Half Board
Located on the slopes of Mount Meru, Ngare Sero Mountain Lodge is perfectly suited for exploring the natural beauty of East Africa. The main house is one of the oldest family cottages in Arusha: it was built at the beginning of the 20th century and still retains many features of the original style. Kilimanjaro International Airport is just 27 kilometers (17 miles) away, making the lodge an excellent place for overnight stays between climbing and safaris.
A respectful attitude towards historical heritage is combined at Ngare Sero Mountain Lodge with modern standards of comfort and hospitality. Each room features comfortable wide beds with carved headboards and anti-mosquito canopies, large baths to relax in after a busy day on safari, solid wood furniture, lamps, sockets, Wi-Fi, and everything needed for rest and relaxation.
Long verandas in colonial style stretch along the facade of the house. Sitting in chairs with long armrests, it's pleasant to admire the lake, greenery, and gardens. And when the clouds dissipate, one can see the majestic Mount Kilimanjaro.
The property has an outdoor pool with sun loungers and a spa center where guests can book a massage session or other self-care treatments. There is also a bar and restaurant. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner can be enjoyed in the dining room with an open veranda, in the dining area, or in a secluded pavilion by the lake.
WiFi 
Swimming Pool 
Laundry service 
Wildlife area 
Spa 
Restaurant 
Today’s journey takes you from the lowlands up into the Ngorongoro Highlands. The drive from Arusha — the typical starting point for this safari — takes about 4 to 5 hours, depending on the location of your lodge. But the reward is well worth the journey: a stay on the edge of the Ngorongoro Crater, one of Africa’s most iconic landscapes.
After arriving in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, you’ll stretch your legs with a guided walk along the crater rim. Led by a professional park ranger, this easy 1–2 hour hike follows a flat trail through lush montane forest.
While large animals like elephants and buffalo are rarer here than down in the crater, keep your eyes open for tracks and forest birds — and listen to the bush as it slowly reveals its secrets. At the end of the trail, you’ll be rewarded with a spectacular view over the world’s largest intact volcanic caldera.
After your walk, check in at a lodge perched right on the edge of the crater. This is your chance to relax, soak in the silence, and enjoy the dramatic landscapes around you. At 2,286 meters above sea level, Ngorongoro can get chilly in the morning and evening — bring a warm layer for extra comfort.
Meal Plan:Full board
Perched high on the eastern edge of the Ngorongoro Crater, Karibu Lions Paw Camp seems to float under the endless African sky, surrounded by a dense grove of spreading acacias. The hotel's unique location allows guests to fully appreciate panoramic views of the majestic crater, Lake Magadi at its base, and the beauty of the highlands.
To ensure nothing disturbs the magic of unity with the wild, Karibu Lions Paw Camp has created all the conditions for a comfortable stay. 15 individual cottages, raised on wooden decks, are positioned to ensure enough space for privacy and tranquility. Guests can choose from various options - from spacious double and family rooms to luxurious honeymoon suites. Each cottage with its own veranda is fully equipped with everything necessary, including large comfortable beds, furniture, cozy textiles, electricity, a toilet, and a shower with hot water.
The main hotel building houses a lounge living room, bar, and separate dining area. The lounge's large terrace is the perfect place not only for admiring colorful sunsets and landscapes below but also for spotting lions, cheetahs, elephants, and buffaloes through binoculars, and trying to catch a glimpse of the rare black rhino.
Laundry service
Restaurant
WiFi
Wildlife area
Hiking in Empakaai Crater is an amazing way to bring some diversity in your safari program and stretch your legs after the days of game-driving! Empakaai Crater is a caldera in the Ngorongoro Consevation Area, encircling a beautiful lake on the crater floor, for which you would head amidst the greenery of the forest. The forest trail is a bit steep, although totally manageable, and leads you passing the ancient strangler figs and rich birdlife. The trail continues to the lakeshore, where you can view water birds - and, if you are lucky, even flamingos that migrate here in December. The glorious views of the Great Rift Valley from the crater rim are totally worth the effort!
Meal Plan:Full board
Perched high on the eastern edge of the Ngorongoro Crater, Karibu Lions Paw Camp seems to float under the endless African sky, surrounded by a dense grove of spreading acacias. The hotel's unique location allows guests to fully appreciate panoramic views of the majestic crater, Lake Magadi at its base, and the beauty of the highlands.
To ensure nothing disturbs the magic of unity with the wild, Karibu Lions Paw Camp has created all the conditions for a comfortable stay. 15 individual cottages, raised on wooden decks, are positioned to ensure enough space for privacy and tranquility. Guests can choose from various options - from spacious double and family rooms to luxurious honeymoon suites. Each cottage with its own veranda is fully equipped with everything necessary, including large comfortable beds, furniture, cozy textiles, electricity, a toilet, and a shower with hot water.
The main hotel building houses a lounge living room, bar, and separate dining area. The lounge's large terrace is the perfect place not only for admiring colorful sunsets and landscapes below but also for spotting lions, cheetahs, elephants, and buffaloes through binoculars, and trying to catch a glimpse of the rare black rhino.
Laundry service
Restaurant
WiFi
Wildlife area
Today you are going to the Legendary Ngorongoro Crater! Your day will begin early in the morning, when your guide arrives to drive you to the Ngorongoro Crater, part of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The Crater is somewhat reminiscent of The Lost World by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle: here you will witness tens of thousands of wild animals living in the massive crater left by a huge ancient volcano. The actual crater is relatively small, when you consider that it is home to the most variety of animals per square meter than anywhere else in the world! Here, you are sure to see a great number of animals within close proximity to one another.
The descent into the crater will take about half an hour of driving. The road passes through beautiful, lush forests with great scenery. Your safari guide will make a stop to see the ‘look out’ which is a place offering a stunning panoramic view of the entire crater. Contrary to popular myth, animals can go outside the caldera. However, most of them are safe and comfortable inside the caldera which provides an unlimited supply of fresh grass for grazers and easy prey for predators. Therefore, they prefer to remain in the crater t all the time.
Elephants, buffaloes, antelopes, lions, cheetahs, zebras and other African animals can be seen in Ngorongoro Crater. This is one of the few places in Africa where rhinos are found, although, remember that they are an endangered species, so there are very few of them. One animal that is absent are giraffes; you will not spot any of them in the crater because, due to the build of their bodies, including legs and long necks, they cannot walk down into the crater.
After your morning game drive around the crater, you will stop at the picnic area next to Lake Magadi for a snack and rest. This place is popular with various birds, including kites, who sometimes try to steal food right from the table! While not dangerous, at all, it is a good idea not to leave any food unattended. One of the draws of Lake Magadi are the hippos that live in the area. You’re sure to enjoy watching them while you eat lunch. These huge animals stay close to the shore and often surface to get air. If you do see one walking out of the water, give it plenty of space. Due to the large number of animals and endemic plants, Ngorongoro Conservation Area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and renowned for its natural significance in the world.
Please do not feed animals in Ngorongoro or any other parks in Tanzania. Even if you really want to treat a small bird or monkey, you should not do this - you will only harm them. Human food disrupts the natural diet of animals and can lead to their early death!
Remember, this is not just our request. This is a law which is enforced by park rangers. Any person caught feeding wildlife or violating other park rules may be fined.
Meal Plan:Half Board
Located on the slopes of Mount Meru, Ngare Sero Mountain Lodge is perfectly suited for exploring the natural beauty of East Africa. The main house is one of the oldest family cottages in Arusha: it was built at the beginning of the 20th century and still retains many features of the original style. Kilimanjaro International Airport is just 27 kilometers (17 miles) away, making the lodge an excellent place for overnight stays between climbing and safaris.
A respectful attitude towards historical heritage is combined at Ngare Sero Mountain Lodge with modern standards of comfort and hospitality. Each room features comfortable wide beds with carved headboards and anti-mosquito canopies, large baths to relax in after a busy day on safari, solid wood furniture, lamps, sockets, Wi-Fi, and everything needed for rest and relaxation.
Long verandas in colonial style stretch along the facade of the house. Sitting in chairs with long armrests, it's pleasant to admire the lake, greenery, and gardens. And when the clouds dissipate, one can see the majestic Mount Kilimanjaro.
The property has an outdoor pool with sun loungers and a spa center where guests can book a massage session or other self-care treatments. There is also a bar and restaurant. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner can be enjoyed in the dining room with an open veranda, in the dining area, or in a secluded pavilion by the lake.
WiFi
Swimming Pool
Laundry service
Wildlife area
Spa
Restaurant 
Rest in the hotel and transfer to the airport.
Note: Hotel check-out is at 10:00 AM. In case you need a late check-out before your evening flight, you have the option to extend your hotel stay for an extra fee. Let your manager know in advance if you need a late check-out.
Safari Cost Includes
Transfers
- All transfers described on the program
Accommodation & Meals
- Hotels and lodges described on the program
- Meals described on the program
- Bottled water, soft drinks, hot coffee and tea while in the jeep on safari
Guiding & Game-Driving
- Certified and experienced English-speaking safari guide
- Comfortable Land Cruiser 4x4s with pop-up roof, fridge, Wi-Fi, and power outlets
- National park fees for the entire tour (park entry fees and concession fees)
- Free Wi-Fi. Signal will be available in only 60-75% of the travelled territories due to lack of cell coverage in the wilderness areas
- 24/7 phone support service
- Air Ambulance Service by AMREF Flying Doctors
- Binoculars (1 pc per SUV)
- Medical kit
Safari Cost Excludes
- Air tickets;
- Visa fee;
- Travel insurance;
- Tips to your safari guide ($30-50 per day per car).
Please note:
- By default our tours include shared accommodation in twin/double rooms, unless requested and agreed otherwise. Single supplement is available upon request. Please refer to the program to see your accommodation arrangements
- Moshi and Arusha-based accommodations usually include breakfast only, unless requested and agreed otherwise. Please refer to the program to see your meal plans on each night
- Most safari lodges usually do not include tea, coffee, soft and alcoholic drinks not to have you overpay for beverages you don't need. You will be able to order and pay for drinks at the hotels' restaurants
- Tented lodges are the most common type of accommodation in savannah. Many of them work on solar energy. This sometimes means bucket showers, limited wi-fi and no hair dryers, all in an effort to reduce environmental impact. We encourage you to do some basic research on the accommodations in your program to ensure the safari matches your travel style
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