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A birds-eye view of the Africa of our dreams |
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Inside Ngorongoro Trekking Routes
Olmoti Crater
Click on the pictures for larger images!
| General map |
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The Olmoti Crater is one of the major water catchment areas for the
Ngorongoro Crater. The water flows via the Munge River into the
Mandusi Swamp and eventually into Lake Magadi in the Crater. The drive from Lemala Gate at Ngorongoro to Nainokanoka village takes 40 minutes over a good road. Distance from Lemala Gate is 8.35 miles or 13.50 km. The altitude at Nainokanoka village is 8707 ft or 2654m. At Nainokanoka village, your driver will arrange a ranger (with gun to protect you against possible buffalo) and your trek starts at the foothills of Olmoti on the outskirts of the village. In total, you will hike about 2.75 miles (4.5km). You will need about 2.5 hours to experience the complete trek at a leisurely pace. It is almost a mile from the start to the highest point (9404 ft or 2866 m) and it will take about 45 minutes. The trail is a bit steep at times but most people should be able to reach the top. Once at the top, the views are great. If you are afraid of heights, avoid the steeper edge on the left. The trail to the waterfall leads straight down a rather steep trail so be careful not to slip. There are some paths to the right which are not so steep. After about 10 minutes down the trail, you will reach the stream (source of the waterfall). Cross the stream and proceed down a rocky area to the viewpoint for the falls at 9121 ft. On the right, you will see large cliffs where Maasai cattle sometimes stumble and fall to a certain death. When this happens the Maasai just take their pots and cooking utensils to the dead carcass and have an impromptu feast! Back from the waterfall, the trail will follow a different (and easier) route back to the crater rim before descending down to the starting point.
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| Olmoti seen from the approach road when arriving from Ngorongoro |
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| The ascend path starts on the right of the picture and follows a diagonal trail to the left |
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| The summit is in the middle of the picture to the right of the valley (where the white clouds are) and the waterfall is at the saddle at the top of the Munge Gorge |
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| The trail starts with knee-high elephant grass |
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| Halfway up, one can clearly see Nainokanoka village |
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| Towards the top, the trail follows an eroded cattle route |
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| The summit |
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| Views from the summit are breathtaking |
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| The source of the waterfall |
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| The top of the waterfall |
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| Waterfall |
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| The crater itself is popular graze land |
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| On the way down one can see as far as the Ngorongoro Crater |
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