The dramatic Empakai Crater is explored on this full-day hike. Empakai is a vast natural beauty, with a lake on the Crater floor and the entire caldera surrounded by a steep, densely forested wall. On clear days, the Crater provides views of Tanzania’s most recently active volcano, ”Ol Doinyo Lengai”. The steep slope necessitates some physical exertion, but the walk through the lush forest, with its ancient strangler figs and various birdlife, is well worth the effort. The trail continues to the lakeshore, where you can see flamingos and other water birds.

Empakaai Crater is a 300-metre-high caved-in volcanic caldera with a width of more than six kilometers. Empakaai Lake, an 85-metre-deep alkaline pool that envelops three-quarters of the crater’s floor, is rippling at its heart. Standing on the imposing rim of Empakai Crater, you can see landmarks such as Kilimanjaro’s distant fleecy snows on the Valley’s eastern side, the Great Rift Valley, and Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano.

While hiking through the beautiful scenery, you’re bound to see blue monkeys, buffalo, bush bucks, water bucks, and a huge number of kaleidoscopic bird life. This will be accompanied by lunch during your hike.