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Tanzania Walking Locations
Engaruka is situated 63 kilometers north of Mto
wa Mbu, on the road to Oldoinyo Lengai and Lake Natron. The village
of Engaruka lies at the foot of the rift valley escarpment. Fast
flowing streams from the escarpment are utilized to irrigating small
plots and give the village a pleasant green look, in contrast to
the surrounding plains where Maasai cattle graze side by side with
herds of zebras. Birds of prey circle above the area looking for
a kill, while remarkable looking secretary birds, beloved as snake
killers, strut across the plains. Dust cyclones are often seen on
the horizon, they are feared as - devils fingers", bringing
bad luck when they touch people.
Engaruka is one of Tanzania 's most important historic
sites. Some 500 years ago, a farming community of several thousand
developed an ingenious irrigation and cultivation system. The water
that flowed from the rift escarpment was channeled into stone-built
canals and led to stone-bench terraces. Measures were taken to prevent
soil erosion and the fertility of the plots was increased by using
the manure of stall fed cattle. For unknown reasons, the farmers
left Engaruka around 1700. Now, three centuries later, the ruins
still give a good impression of the highly specialized, integrated
agricultural economy, very remarkable for that period of African
history. Although several famous archaeologists including Louis
Leakey have investigated the Engaruka ruins, the site is still surrounded
with mysteries. Many questions remain unanswered:
- Who were the people living in Engarukaa?
- How did they come to develop such an iingenious
farming system?
- Why did they finally leave Engaruka?
Several theories have been developed, but none of them have as yet
been verified.
ATTS
237 - Tanzania Walking Safari ( Ngorongoro Treks )- 8 Days
Day 1: Arusha – Ngorongoro (190 Km) –
4 hrs Drive
Depart at 11:00a.m. from Arusha for Ngororongoro arriving at 03:00p.m.
Check in your overnight hotel or set up a camp. At 04:00 p.m. Descend
into the crater floor for “sundowner” crater tour. Overnight
at the Lodge or camp site.
Day 2: Ngorongoro – Nainokanoka Village
(28 Km) – 35 Mins Drive
Early after breakfast, descend the crater floor for a morning crater
tour. Afternoon proceed to Nainokanoka village. Set up a camp and
walk to the rim of the olmoti crater, visit the wonderful Munge
Waterfalls before returning to the camp for diner and overnight.
Day 3: Olmoti Crater – Kamnana Village
(20 Km) – 5-6 Hrs Trek
Depart for Kamnana Village, walking through the Embulbul Depression
Following the cattle trails which passes through the forests grasslands.
Your overnight camp is set in the bush at some distance from the
village.
Day 4: Kamnana Village – Empakaai Crater
(8 Km) – 4 to 5 Hrs Trek
Early departure, start walking following the path which leads through
open grasslands area, bush land area and forests gradually gaining
height to the rim of the Empakaai Crater. Camp is set on the rim,
before descending into the crater floor covered with dense equatorial
forests, grass and a volcanic lake. Animals like buffaloes, reedbucks,
waterbucks and different species of birds can be seen at close ranges
during the walk around the lake. Overnight camp on the crater rim.
Day 5: Empakaai Crater – Naiyobi Masai
Village (5 Km) – 5 to 7 Hrs Trek
Depart for Naiyobi Village circling the crater rim, descend on the
north-western side. Trails leads to the Naiyobi Masai Village which
is reached late afternoon. The evening is spent relaxing or visiting
the village school and also interacting with the friendly local
masai people. Overnight camp at the acacia trees forest near the
village.
Day 6 : Naiyobi Masai Village – Mouwongoni
Masai Village (11 Km) – 6 to 8 Hrs Trek
Depart in the morning following the dusty paths downhill and off
the crater highlands to Mouwongoni Masai Village. Overnight camp
at the edge of the village.
Day 7: Mouwongoni Masai Village – Ngarasero
Village (19KM) – 7 to 9 Hrs Trek
Leave in the morning before sun is hot to follow the winding path
across bares volcanic rocks and dusty lava soil. The path rounding
the North-Western floor of the active Mt. Lengai crosses River Ngaresero
to the nearby village. Camp is set up near the river and deep bath
in the river is very refreshing and even more natural. Early morning
between 03:00a.m. and 04:00a.m. your transfer jeep drives you to
the foot of Mt. Lengai to start the trek to the peak 2878m
Day 8: Lake Natron – Arusha (375Km) –
6 to 7 Hrs Drive
Descend from the mountain at about 01:00p.m., lunch, tour of lake
Natron on jeep and transfer back to Arusha.
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