Empakaai Crater Facts, A Full-Day Hike Tours, Reviews

The Empakaai crater, situated within the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, is a notable example of a multi-volcanic caldera. It boasts a remarkably elevated rim, potentially surpassing that of other calderas in the vicinity. Moreover, the crater floor is predominantly occupied by a picturesque lake, constituting over 75% of its total area. One of the primary points of interest within the crater is the notable abundance of Flamingoes observed along the coastline of the lake situated within this Crater.

EMPAKAI CRATER

The Ngorongoro crater is situated within the Ngorongoro highlands and is encompassed by densely forested cliffs that reach an approximate height of 300 meters. These cliffs exhibit a rich display of verdant natural flora, diverse animals, and a wide array of avian species. The diameter of the crater measures approximately 8 kilometers, with approximately 50% of its floor being occupied by a significantly deep soda lake. This lake serves as a habitat for several avian species, including flamingoes and other waterfowl.

Empakai Crater Facts:

8km COVERED AREA, 4km COVERED BY DEEP SODA LAKE, 3,200m ELEVATION WESTERN SIDE, 2,590 m ABOVE SEA LEVEL EASTERN SIDE, 300m FORESTED CLIFFS STANDING

About Empakai Crater

The Empakaai crater, situated within the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, is a notable example of a multi-volcanic caldera. It boasts a remarkably elevated rim, potentially surpassing that of other calderas in the vicinity. Moreover, the crater floor is predominantly occupied by a picturesque lake, constituting over 75% of its total area. One of the primary points of interest within the crater is the notable abundance of Flamingoes observed along the coastline of the lake situated within this Crater.

The Ngorongoro crater is situated within the Ngorongoro highlands and is encompassed by densely forested cliffs that reach an approximate height of 300 meters. These cliffs exhibit a rich display of verdant natural flora, diverse animals, and a wide array of avian species. The diameter of the crater measures approximately 8 kilometers, with approximately 50% of its floor being occupied by a significantly deep soda lake. This lake serves as a habitat for several avian species, including flamingoes and other waterfowl.

What to see in Empakai Crater

Crater lake, Flamingoes, some of the Big Five, monkeys, birds and on the edge the crater rim Oldonyo Lengai Mountain.

What to do in Empakai Crater

Hiking, Camping

A Full day Empakai Crater hike

Empakaai Crater, a collapsed volcanic caldera, exhibits a vertical elevation of 300 meters and spans over six kilometers in width. At the core of the rippling landscape lies Empakaai Lake, a body of water with an impressive depth of 85 meters. This alkaline pool covers almost 75% of the crater’s floor. From the vantage point of Empakai Crater’s formidable rim, one is afforded a panoramic view of notable geographical features, including the ethereal snowy peaks of Kilimanjaro in the far eastern expanse of the Valley, the expansive Great Rift Valley, and the prominent Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano.

This comprehensive day-long trek entails an exploration of the awe-inspiring Empakaai Crater. Empakaai is a captivating spectacle of immense natural splendor, characterized by a lake situated within the Crater floor and a precipitous, heavily wooded wall encompassing the entire caldera. During days with optimal visibility, the Crater provides panoramic vistas of Ol Doinyo Lengai, which is recognized as Tanzania’s most recently active volcanic peak. The inclination of the terrain necessitates a certain level of physical endurance, although the journey through the verdant woodland, adorned with age-old strangler fig trees and teeming with many avian species, is undeniably rewarding. The walk extends towards the lakeshore, offering opportunities to observe flamingos and a diverse array of other avian species inhabiting the water.

During your trekking expedition, as you appreciate the magnificent scenery, it is highly likely that you may come across various fauna such as blue monkeys, buffalo, bush deer, waterbuck, and a diverse range of avian species.