GUNUNG · Tanzania

Empakaai Crater

Empakaai (Kaldera Empakaai), Ngorongoro

Kaldera Empakaai dan danau soda di dalamnya, Kawasan Konservasi Ngorongoro, Tanzania. Photo: source

Information

Elevation: 3.200 m
Country: Tanzania (TZ)
Location / Range: Dataran Tinggi Ngorongoro (Ngorongoro Conservation Area), Crater Highlands, Region Arusha
Mountain type: Kaldera gunung berapi runtuh berisi danau soda alkali, di dataran tinggi vulkanik Ngorongoro
Volcanic?: Yes — volcano
Coordinates: -2.9126, 35.7871
Difficulty: Sedang — turunan curam dari tepi kaldera ke dasar (~300 m beda tinggi) yang harus didaki kembali; jalur pendek namun tanjakan pulang cukup menguras
Best Season: Musim kering Juni–Oktober (jalur kering, satwa terkonsentrasi) dan Desember–Februari; hindari puncak hujan panjang Maret–Mei
Permits & Rules: Wajib membayar tiket kawasan Ngorongoro Conservation Area dan WAJIB didampingi ranger bersenjata; umumnya diatur lewat operator safari/trekking berizin
Hazards: Satwa liar (kerbau, gajah, hyena) sehingga wajib ranger bersenjata; lereng kaldera curam dan licin saat basah; ketinggian ~2.600–3.200 m dengan cuaca dingin-berkabut

Description

Empakaai (the Empakaai Crater) is a collapsed volcanic caldera in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, part of the Crater Highlands volcanic plateau in Arusha Region, northern Tanzania — about 40 km north of the famous Ngorongoro Crater. Roughly 6–8 km across, it is ringed by steep forested walls over 300 m high; its western rim reaches about 3,200 m while the eastern side sits around 2,590 m. Nearly half the crater floor is filled by the deep blue-green alkaline soda lake of Empakaai, often draped with thousands of flamingos. The signature activity is a hike down the crater wall from the rim to the lakeshore — about 30–50 minutes down, and up to twice as long on the return, with roughly 295 m of ascent over just over a kilometre. On the floor there is superb birding around the lake (flamingos, plus big game such as buffalo, hyena and occasionally elephant). On clear days the rim gives views of Ol Doinyo Lengai and even distant Kilimanjaro. As it lies in wildlife country, every hiker must be escorted by an armed ranger. Empakaai is also a stage on the longer Crater Highlands trek toward Lake Natron.

Gallery

Foto bersumber dari Wikimedia Commons — klik untuk memperbesar & lihat sumbernya.

Routes

Empakaai → Danau Natron (trek Crater Highlands)

Menantang

± 2–4 hari

A long-distance trek that uses Empakaai as its starting point, descending the Crater Highlands volcanic plateau toward Lake Natron and the Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano, often with donkey/porter support and Maasai guides. It offers caldera scenery, high savanna and views of Lengai — a multi-day expedition for experienced hikers.

Source

Climbing Experiences

The Empakaai crater hike in Tanzania's Ngorongoro Conservation Area — descending from the rim (~3,200 m) to the flamingo-fringed soda lake on the floor, escorted by an armed ranger; also a stage on the longer Crater Highlands trek to Lake Natron.

References

The summary above is compiled from the following sources. Click to explore them yourself.