Reviews: Crater Rim Walk

"My guide was very knowledgeable about plants and what they're used for.

He was also knowledgable about the Maasai village and the surrounding area." Read more about this whole safari

"Really enjoyed this walk.

Guides were friendly and informative and it was nice to stretch our legs after a long flight. You'll see lots of bird life and flora.

Our guide was Maasai and we learned about their culture!" Read more about this whole safari

"We (my wife and I) enjoyed our walk from Entamanu Lodge to the edge of the crater rim very much. Our Maasai guide, Kiseka, estimated the distance from the lodge to the crater rim to be 12 kilometers round trip. The trip was gradually downhill, though interspersed with some level areas, to the rim, and the reverse on the return. While we thought that the terrain was moderately difficult, the walk itself was not strenuous, even for two 70+ year olds. My wife indicated that she was helped greatly by a sturdy walking stick that Kiseka brought for her to use. Both of us welcomed the exercise as we had spent many hours in a safari vehicle both the day before on the crater floor and that morning on a round trip to Olduvai Gorge. We also were accompanied by an armed park ranger, as the area was open to wildlife.

The terrain was interesting, with dense areas of trees at the higher elevations, smaller acacia bushes/trees and some more open space in the flatter areas, and much less dense areas of trees closer to the rim. On the descent, we met three Maasai herders returning to their village with a large number of cattle whose exposed ribs showed the lingering effects of the drought that had existed in the area.

During the walk, Kiseka described the plants and trees that we saw as well as continuing his discussion of Maasai culture that we began during our walk together to the Maasai village two days prior.

The views over the crater rim were impressive, as we could see in panorama the entire floor of the crater, including the relatively large soda lake, the forest area on the far right of the crater (without a compass, I couldn't tell directions), and the savannah in-between, all surrounded by 600-meter walls.

On our return trip, we saw four large giraffes in the flat open area. Two of them walked within 60 to 70 meters of us. They seemed just as curious about us as we did about them.

I highly recommend this walk, both for the exercise value and to experience the varied terrain, flora, and fauna from a different perspective." Read more about this whole safari