01/05/2023
Empakai Crater
Ngorongoro Crater is the centerpiece of Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA), but NCA Highlands is also home to other alluring areas of interest which are much less visited. One such place of vast natural beauty is Empakai Crater. Located about 70 km from the Ngorongoro Crater Viewpoint, Empakai is a collapsed volcanic caldera. About 75% of the 6 km wide crater is filled by a deep alkaline lake that is about 85 meters deep. A large number of flamingos are often seen along the lake’s shoreline. The 300 meter high walls of the crater are steep and covered with tropical rainforest. From the crater’s rim, on a clear day, you can catch a glimpse of Ol Domingo Langnau - Tanzania’s most recently active volcano.
To really appreciate the beauty of Empakai, it is possible to hike from the rim to the crater floor accompanied by an armed park ranger/guide. Along the trail, you can learn about the flora and fauna of the area. While you rest on the crater floor in the shade of the ancient fig trees, you may find yourself being amused by the curiosity of blue monkeys.
Trek with the Guides’
