Olmoto Crater Hike In Ngorongoro, Tanzania

The Olmoti Crater is one of the hidden gems of the Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area in Tanzania. A sunken caldera has formed over the past ten million years, to create the Olmoti Crater which means ‘Cooking Pot’ in the Maasai language.

While it isn’t quite as dramatic in shape as Ngorongoro or Empakaai Crater, the lush surroundings and water source still attract a number of grazing animals such as elephants, buffalo, waterbuck, and antelope. The hike into Olmoti Crater takes about thirty minutes and offers panoramic views of the region and a glimpse of the Munge Waterfall, which pours out of the crater.

GUIDES, RANGERS AND PERMITS FOR OLMOTI CRATER

To enter Olmoti Crater, you will need to have done prior organization and it isn’t a hike you can do independently. Firstly, you will need to pay the park fees and permit to enter the Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area. As I mentioned earlier, most people visit several attractions in the area to get value out of their permits. A safari in the Ngorongoro Crater, hiking Empakaai Crater, and visiting the Maasai villages can all be included in your itinerary to maximize your time in the region.

In addition to the park permits, you will also need to employ the services of one of the park rangers because you will be leaving your vehicle in a zone where wild animals rule the land. Our park ranger, Simon, took us on two hikes in one day. First, we did the small 3-kilometer round-trip hike of Olmoti Crater and then we drove to Empakaai Crater and he led us up and down that hike also. Your ranger will be experienced, well-trained and armed in case of an emergency or dangerous animal encounter.

The last part to consider about reaching Empakaai Crater is that you will need a 4×4 vehicle, which is capable of handling the tough terrain of the Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area. I hiked Olmoti Crater as part of a four-day expedition of several hikes in the region with Altezza Travel and we had a driver with a 4×4 vehicle for the entirety of our trip.

BOOK YOUR NGORONGORO CONSERVATION AREA TOUR: I did my Ngorongoro 4-day tour with Altezza Travel and it was an incredible trip. If you want to book with Altezza, they offer a 5% discount to my readers when you use the code JACKSON5 to book your trek.

MY EXPERIENCE ON THE OLMOTI CRATER HIKE

The morning began with an early morning wake-up at the Lion’s Paw lodge in Ngorongoro. We then had to head to the secondary entrance gate of Ngorongoro to pick up our ranger/guide for the hike. After picking up Simon, drove to the ranger post at Nainokanoka where we checked in, parked the car, and then began the hike up into Olmoti Crater.

Simon was a young ranger who was armed for the trek, mainly in case a rogue buffalo ambushed us. The rangers carry a gun but rarely ever use it and they are actually the ones who protect the animals in the Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area. This includes 24/7 surveillance of the rhino population in the region.

The hike is uphill straight away and Simon’s pace left us breathless. At 2700m of elevation, the air is thin especially in the humidity of the forest. As we made our way up the hill, we passed through the dense vegetation including the ‘Old Man’s Beard’, which is the high-altitude moss that covers the branches of the trees.

After thirty minutes, we reached the crater rim to enjoy beautiful views of the expansive caldera. In the distance, we could spot buffalo, elephants, and waterbuck grazing in the plains. A river wound through the crater providing a water source for the wildlife. This river eventually reaches an opening in the crater to pour down into the Munge Waterfall, which is visible from the road as you approach the ranger station.

I asked the ranger if it is possible to hike and/or around the crater and he said it can be done but is not offered to tourists. The terrain of the Olmoti Crater is a swamp in many places and even going much further beyond the initial river is very muddy. Simon our ranger took us down to the river and the source of the waterfall where we had great views of the crater. It would have been a great adventure to do a longer, full loop around the crater, but I can appreciate when some parts of ecosystems are off-limits to tourists.

I think the Olmoti Crater is a great short hike and makes a handy addition to your itinerary in the Ngorongoro region. I hope you enjoyed this hiking guide for the Empakaai Crater in Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area, Tanzania.