The Ngorongoro Conservation Area contains more than one crater. North-east of the main caldera the highland road passes two more: Olmoti, a shallow, grassy bowl, and Empakaai, a steep-sided crater about 6 km across with a deep soda lake covering much of its floor.
Their appeal is the opposite of the main crater’s. There are no convoys of vehicles and far fewer big animals; instead you walk, accompanied by an armed ranger, through montane forest and grassland where Maasai herders graze their cattle.
Top things to do: Empakaai & Olmoti Craters
Walk down into Empakaai
A steep forest path drops from the rim to the lakeshore in around 30 to 45 minutes; the climb back takes about an hour. On the way you may see blue monkeys, bushbuck, buffalo tracks and many forest birds, and the lake often holds flamingos. From the rim on a clear day you can see the cone of Ol Doinyo Lengai, and sometimes Lake Natron beyond.
Hike to the Olmoti waterfall
From the ranger post near the village of Nainokanoka a path climbs for 30 to 45 minutes to the rim of Olmoti. The floor is a wide grassy basin; the Munge River gathers here and leaves over a waterfall on its way down to the Ngorongoro Crater.
Meet the highlands
The drive itself is a highlight: rolling grassland at well over 2,500 m, Maasai bomas, herds of cattle mixed with zebra, and views back towards the main crater.
How to get to Empakaai & Olmoti Craters
- Both craters are reached on a gravel road that leaves the Ngorongoro rim road near the eastern (Lemala) side. Allow roughly an hour to Olmoti and about two hours to Empakaai.
- An armed ranger is compulsory for the walks and is collected from a ranger post on the way; your operator arranges this and the fee.
- Very few scheduled tours include these craters. Ask for them as an extra day on a private northern-circuit safari.
Insider tips
- Empakaai’s rim is around 3,000 m in places: it is cold, often misty and the altitude makes the climb out harder than it looks.
- Wear proper walking shoes — the path is steep and slippery after rain.
- Start early; cloud tends to build up over the highlands by afternoon.
Best tours & safaris: Empakaai & Olmoti Craters
These experiences are the easiest way to see Empakaai & Olmoti Craters:
Multi-day safari from €1782 Tanzania: 7-Day Safari with Lodges & Game Drives
A week-long lodge safari on the northern circuit, with time for several nights in the Serengeti as well as the crater. Seven days is the length at which a northern-circuit trip stops feeling rushed. A newer listing — check recent reviews before booking.
- A full week on the northern circuit
- Lodge accommodation
- New listing — few reviews yet
Multi-day safari from €1015 Tanzania: 5-Day Safari to Tarangire, Ngorongoro, and Manyara
Five days around the parks closest to Arusha — Tarangire, Lake Manyara and the Ngorongoro Crater — without the long haul to the Serengeti. Shorter drives mean more time watching animals. This is a newer listing with few or no reviews yet, so read the itinerary closely.
- Three parks at an unhurried pace
- Shorter drives than a Serengeti loop
- New listing — few reviews yet
