Empakaai Crater

Empakaai Crater is one of the hidden gems of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. With a diameter of about eight kilometers, nearly half of the crater floor is occupied by a deep alkaline lake. The crater walls rise steeply, covered in dense, evergreen montane forest that is often shrouded in mist. It is a place of extraordinary natural beauty and silence, far removed from the motorized safaris of the main Ngorongoro Crater. The primary activity here is hiking. A narrow trail leads from the rim down to the lakeshore, where thousands of flamingos can be seen tinting the water pink. The forests are home to buffalo, bushbucks, and a wide variety of birds. From the crater rim on clear days, you get spectacular views of the active Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano and, with optimal visibility, even Mount Kilimanjaro. Access is by 4x4 vehicle through the highlands, often as part of a multi-day walking safari. The best time to visit is from June to October. Since there are no permanent accommodations in the crater, adventurers stay at basic campsites on the rim. Food and supplies must be completely self-brought, with local guides and rangers ensuring safety.

Nearby cities

Babati

Located on Lake Babati, a city in the Rift Valley overlooking Mount Kwaraa.

Mbulu

A high-altitude town in the crater-like highlands, dominated by the Iraqw people.

Karatu

A lively highland town, known as the gateway to the Ngorongoro Crater and famous for its fertile red soil.

Mto wa Mbu

A culturally diverse village at the entrance of Lake Manyara National Park, famous for its irrigation systems and red bananas.

Lake Manyara National Park

A diverse national park famous for its tree-climbing lions and vast soda lake filled with flamingos.

Lake Eyasi

A shallow soda lake in the Rift Valley, home to the Hadzabe hunter-gatherers and known for authentic cultural encounters.

Charrana

A hidden gem at the Cape of the Three Forks with wild cliffs and crystal-clear waters.

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Izemmouren إزمّـورن

Izemmouren is a tranquil coastal town in northern Morocco, known for its pristine beaches like Playa Los Piratos.

Melilla

A fascinating Spanish enclave in North Africa, boasting modernist architecture and a stunning historic citadel.

Nador

The largest city in the Rif region on the shores of a large lagoon.

History & landmarks

Ngorongoro Crater

The world's largest inactive volcanic caldera, forming a unique and densely populated wildlife ecosystem.

Tarangire National Park

Famous for its massive elephant herds and striking, ancient baobab trees.

Nature

Lake Natron

An alkaline salt lake.

Lake Manyara

A lake in the rift valley.

Mar Chica

A large saltwater lagoon.

More places

Wembere Plain

A vast, flat plain in the center of Tanzania.

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Geita Farmland

Agricultural area.

Ol Doinyo Lengai

A unique active volcano with natrocarbonatite lava.

Engaruka Ruins

The fascinating remains of a complex agricultural system and Iron Age settlement in the East African Rift Valley.

Ngorongoro Crater

A massive volcanic caldera in the Serengeti region.

Olduvai Gorge

One of the most important paleoanthropological sites in the world, known as the 'Cradle of Mankind'.

Lake Natron Basin

An extremely alkaline lake near the Kenyan border.

Port of Nador

A commercial port on the Mediterranean serving the L'Oriental economic region.