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BTC 11 – 6 Days Empakaai Crater Trek

Areas of interest: Crater Highlands, Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Great Rift Valley, Ol-Doinyo-Lengai, Masai Community, Olmoti Mountain, Empakaai Crater, Olmoti Crater

Activity: Game Drive, Game and Bird Watching, Camping, Scenery, Culture, Ethnic, Photography, Exploring on Foot

Country: Tanzania

The Crater Highlands consist of an elevated range of volcanoes and collapsed volcanoes, which rise from the side of the Great Rift Valley and run along the Eastern edge of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The peaks include Oldeani, Lemagrut, Olmoti, Loolmalasin, Empakaai, Ngorongoro and the active Ol Doinyo Lengai. They all have a number of impressive peaks - with steep escarpments, crater lakes, dense forests and grassy ridges, streams and waterfalls. The area is secluded and rarely visited but offers some of Tanzania’s most jagged and extraordinary scenery and some of the finest trekking. Most walking is done at around the 3000m mark though there are more routes available to the more adventurous.

To see Kenya route map click here

To see East Africa route map click here

Day 1 - Ngorongoro Crater
We depart Arusha town in the morning and drive via Lake Manyara National Park for lunch and an afternoon game viewing before proceeding on to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Overnight at the Simba campsite on the crater rim.

The Lake Manyara National park is serene and beautiful with main attractions of a rich bird life, tree-climbing lions, its elephants, and hippos that you can see at closer range than most other places. Lake Manyara is an alkaline lake and at certain times of the year hosts thousands of flamingos and a diversity of other bird life. Although it is one of the smallest parks, its vegetation is so diverse enabling it to host a variety of wildlife habitats.

The Ngorongoro crater is the world’s biggest whole volcanic caldera at 8300 sq km and is frequently described as one of the wonders of the world, not only because of its geological magnificence, but also because it serves as an extraordinary natural sanctuary for some of Africa’s largest populations of large mammals. Ngorongoro and other freestanding mountains are volcanic in origin, formed during the fracturing process that created the Rift valley 15 to 20 million years ago.

Day 2 - Olmoti Crater
Departing the campsite after breakfast we drive up to Nainokanoka Masai Village on the slopes of Olmoti mountain where we pick-up the local guide/and ranger and start the ascent of Olmoti crater. Olmoti crater is a sunken caldera that can only be reached on foot and is about a 3-4 hours walk to the rim. From the rim you could walk to an appealing waterfall where the Munge River leaves the Olmoti crater. Water collecting in the crater flows down the falls and eventually runs into Lake Magadi in Ngorongoro Crater. We set camp back at Nainokanoka village close to the Masai boma.

Day 3 - Empakaai Crater
After breakfast we depart Nainokanoka village and follow Masai cattle trails northeast across the grasslands of the Embulbul depression, towards Empakaai crater, reaching the lightly wooded crater rim on its southern edge, which normally takes 7 - 8 hours. Almost half the floor of the 6km wide, 300m high Empakaai crater is taken up by a deep soda lake. Blue monkey, buffalo, and bushbuck are likely to be seen on the rim, which boasts good views of Lengai Volcano, Kilimanjaro and Lake Natron. The crater floor is home to a variety of antelope and water birds. We set camp on the crater rim for the night.

Day 4 - Empakaai Crater rim trek
A path circles the whole of the crater rim and we can follow this to reach a low point on the western rim. The views from here down into the crater are spectacular. The steep inner walls are densely forested and drop to the flat crater floor, which is partly submerged under a lake, often surrounded by huge flocks of Flamingos.

There is a good chance of seeing wildlife here as the Masai are generally not allowed to cattle graze. It is possible to descend into the crater itself and camp by the lake, although this means carrying the camping gear, as it is too steep for the donkeys. You will require extending your trip by one day if you wish to do this. Instead you may opt to camp on the rim for two nights and descend to the crater floor for the whole day.

Day 5 - Nainokanoka Masai Village
After breakfast we return from Empakaai via the western trail and spend the night back at Nainokanoka village close to the Masai boma.

Day 6 - Ngorongoro crater tour, Arusha
After breakfast we descend into the Ngorongoro Crater with our vehicle for the half-day crater Tour. After lunch we break camp and depart back to Arusha town where you will be dropped off at your hotel.

Ngorongoro Crater is one of Africa’s best-known wildlife viewing areas and one of Tanzania’s most visited. Within its walls are a variety of animals and vegetation, including grasslands, swamps, forests, saltpans and a fresh water lake. You are likely to see lion, elephant, rhino, buffalo, and many of the plains herbivores such as wildebeest, Thomson’s gazelle, zebra, reedbuck, as well as thousands of flamingos wading in the shallows of Lake Magadi – the soda lake at the craters base.

Price: Please Enquire
Local Payment: Please Enquire

WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE PRICE:
- Transport by special safari vehicle
- Services of an English speaking driver/tour guide and cook
- All campsite fees
- All camping equipment including use of our three-person tents (each tent shared by 2 people), stools, foam mattresses except sleeping bags
- Three meals a day while on safari whether vegetarian or non-vegetarian prepared by our safari cook

WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE PRICE:
- Gamepark entrance fees shown separately as 'local payment'
- Personal travel insurance
- Flying Doctors Service for emergency evacuation cover valid for 2 months [available in our office at US$25pp within 500km radius or US$50 within 1000kms from Nairobi ].
- Sleeping bags [available for hire in the office at US$15 per bag per safari with US$ 40 refundable deposit]
- Hotel accommodation in Nairobi.
- All airport/hotel/airport transfers [but can be arranged at extra cost]
- All airport taxes and visas
- All personal expenses and toiletries; e.g. mineral water, toilet tissue, laundry, telephones, beverages, tips, portage, etc.
- Any other extras not stated as included above

1. BOOKING:

Scheduled /Camping Safaris:
Deposit [35% of PRICE] is payable to GAMETRACKERS in advance while the balance is due and payable at least 14 DAYS prior to the tour departure failing which the seat may be re-allocated unless otherwise arranged.

2. CANCELLATION:
A) Traditional Booking Payment (Wire Transfer, Bank Transfer or paying in our office)
Earlier than 30 days before departure will require 75% of deposit [as calculated above] to be forfeited.
30 to 4 days before departure will require the full deposit to be forfeited.
3 days before departure and in case of no-show up at all will require 75% of the full price of the safari to be forfeited.
No show up will attract 100 % forfeiture of safari price for any booking made with or by GAMETRACKERS.

B) ONLINE BOOKING:
Full payment is required upon booking.
Cancellation policy will be as [2] above
Refunds will be made less 5% deducted in the processing of the credit card [where payments have been made by credit card], and / or wire expenses [US$35] for processing the refund [if a wire transfer for the refund is preferred].

3. PRICE POLICY:
a) Our price is based on cost at the time of printing and is subject to change if conditions demand such as Government
action, currency exchange fluctuations and increase in game park entry fees. However, if full payment has already been
received upon booking, there will be no change to the price quoted at that time and we undertake to absorb the increase.
b) Where kitty payment applies, this is additional to the to price and is intended to cover the cost of meals prepared during the period of the tour and all park entrance and campsite fees or as may be specified. It is payable in US dollar cash prior to departure in the office.

4. RESPONSIBILITIES:
a) The Company applies all reasonable checks to ensure that those involved in the preparation and provision of your
safari maintain appropriate standards.
b) In exceptional circumstances outside the control of the Company, its agents or suppliers, such as, but not limited to, circumstances amounting to force majeure such as war, threats of war, political unrest, riots, civil disturbances, legally or illegally organized labour disputes, adverse weather conditions and acts of God, the Company or its agents or suppliers cannot be held responsible for discontinuation of the safari, any limitations or withdrawal of facilities.
c) The use by the Company of transport or accommodation in connection with a client safari is subject to the conditions of the operators or owners of such transport or accommodation for whom the Company acts as agents.
d) The company has semi-permanent campsites in some locations, which form part of the itineraries in a number of safaris. These campsites have limited facilities that cannot cope with the demand particularly during the peak periods. Hence in the event of non-availability due to occupation by some other clients, the alternative will be for the clients to pitch their tents as usual within the same campsite or any other budget campsite nearest.
e) Temporary or permanent loss of; damage to, or delay of clients baggage are the responsibility of the client unless
resulting from the proven negligence of the Company. Clients are advised to travel light (i.e. with as little baggage as possible).
f) The Company does not accept liability for the alleged acts and/or missions of its employees, agents and suppliers for deficiencies in the standard of services and facilities supplied in connection with any foreign inclusive tour or any safari supplied or organized by the Company unless resulting from the proven negligence by the Company.
g) The Company does not accept responsibility for the death, body injury or illness caused to the signatory to the contract and/or any other named person on the booking form unless resulting from the proven negligence of the company.
h) The Company, where appropriate and with reasonable discretion, shall afford initial general assistance to clients who, through misadventure, suffer illness, personal injury or death during the period of their safari.
i) The client is responsible for checking-in at the correct time. Accordingly, the Company cannot accept responsibility for clients missing a safari as a result of late check-in.
j) The client acknowledges and accepts that the nature of our safari is expeditious and adventurous and that such tours
involve a certain amount of risk for which the Company and its staff or agents carry no liability.
k) It is mandatory that each client obtains adequate personal travel insurance to cover such personal risks as illness, personal injury or death, loss of baggage and compensation or refund for discontinuation of safari due to circumstances beyond the control of the Company, though not limited to force majeure circumstances only, during the period of their safari otherwise the Company does not accept liability. Flying Doctors Service is also mandatory for rapid evacuation from the scene of an accident or emergency to a hospital otherwise the client is responsible for his evacuation by air or otherwise.
l) The Company reserves the right to cancel a safari or subcontract it to another operator for similar services if the
minimum number of clients required is not achieved or by reason of unusual or unforeseeable circumstances beyond its control, the consequences of which could not have been avoided even if all due care had been exercised. Nevertheless notice of such cancellation will be given whenever possible and an alternative safari offered if practicable though the client is entitled to a refund of his money under the contract if he is not interested and prefers a refund. The difference, if any, between the price of the alternative safari and the initial one will also be refunded.
m) If a client chooses not to complete his safari for any reason, or a safari is discontinued for reasons as in (b) above, there will be no refund.

5. ARBITRATION:
The contract and these conditions shall be governed in all respect by the laws of Kenya. Should a situation arise that you have a complain about any aspect of the safari, this should be reported in the office immediately (where possible) in order that we may be given the opportunity to correct the problem.

DEPARTURE CHECK-IN PROGRAM:
- 8.30 - 9.00 a.m. - Check in our offices ready for the safari REQUIRED:
Receipt or voucher issued at the time of booking accompanied by the Booking Form filled and duly signed if not already submitted
For residents, either the Green Alien Identification Card, Work Permit or Driving Licence as proof of ones status in Kenya
- 9.00 - 9.15 a.m. - Board your safari vehicle
- 9.15 - 9.30 a.m. - Briefing session followed soon after by departure

TANZANIA AND UGANDA DEPARTURES:
These safaris do not depart form Gametrackers (K) Ltd. Office, hence it is important to check in our office at least a day earlier for final briefing.

CAMPING SAFARIS MENUS:
Our menus are based on many years of experience in safari catering. They are characterised by methods, which produce rich and highly flavoured dishes served with accompaniments designed to meet our client appetite. In the
event of changes in our daily menus, allowance should be given, as most of the raw materials are seasonal and dependent on the location of the safari.