Safari to Ngorongoro South

atmospheric highland villages

Ngorongoro South is an area of dramatic and very little-visited highland scenery just to the south of the Ngorongoro Crater.

Considering its proximity to the main safari route, this area is incredibly quiet and little-visited. We reckon that less than 1% of the vehicles visiting the Ngorongoro Crater venture into this southern sector. Any vehicles you meet down here are far more likely to come from the local Maasai villages.

This area has some superb hiking and trekking options. Although the main hiking route is only about 10 km from the main safari vehicle route, it really is a world apart, a very different experience. In fact it’s one of the very best areas for interacting with the local Maasai people.

The main reason that this area is not filled with people is that it’s not big for wildlife. Out on the grasslands you may see wildebeest and eland, we’ve even seen migrating lions out here on rare occasions.

A visit to this area is therefore more about scenery and cultural interaction.
There are no lodges in Ngorongoro South, the only option is bivouac camping, which is to say a light mobile camp which is carried with you, either by vehicle or donkey, depending on your route.

The most popular way to visit is to finish in the Ngorongoro Crater by lunchtime, then drive south to camp overnight close to the Maasai village of Ilmisigiyo. The next morning you undertake the tough but very scenic day hike up the last volcano and down the open slopes into the Serengeti.

Hiking

Starting from the junction where the main Crater Rim Road meets the turn off to Endulen, a simple dirt track heads south through some pretty high altitude scenery to the traditional Maasai village of Ilmisigiyo.

Hiking trail : Ilmisigiyo to Olduvai

This trek is an incredible experience. You are accompanied by real Maasai warriors, with whom it is a real honour to spend time.

Your walking guides and camp crew come mainly from the villages in this immediate area, this is their home patch. As you pass by herders or through villages, your guides will personally know most of the people you meet and will introduce you as personal friends.

The trail leads out the back of Ilmisigiyo and ascends steeply for a couple of hours towards the first summit of the extinct Mount Makarot, from where there are distant views back over the Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Eyasi.

From there we enter an atmospheric cloud forest, heavily draped in lichen, eventually emerging onto the grassy main summit of the mountain. Below we can now see the Serengeti Plains loom out of the haze.

The next hour or two is spent strolling largely downhill, through beautiful grassy valleys dotted with authentic Maasai villages, where the guides are usually well known.

Eventually after a total of 6-10 hours walking we emerge onto the Serengeti Plains themselves, perhaps encountering various wildlife, depending on the season. Our guide is then able to radio to our driver-guide for a pick-up.

The Ngorongoro South is very rarely visited, it is highly unlikely that you will see other tourist vehicles in this remote area, just local Maasai people.

The usual stay duration is 1 night, in advance of a hike, but you could stay longer if you want to explore this magical area and interact with the locals.

Seasonality

The only factor which affects seasonality in Ngorongoro South is the weather, since wildlife movements are not particularly relevant and visitor numbers are always low.
The best months to visit are generally considered to be Jun-Oct, although the early part of that season can be very cold at night.

Getting around

All our visitors to the Ngorongoro South area arrive by guided overland safari, so travel around in their private vehicle.

We almost always service any bivouac camps by using a separate vehicle to deliver the staff and equipment to Ilmisigiyo Village. Whilst you are hiking, your guide, vehicle and support vehicle will drive back and around the main safari route to meet with you down in the Olduvai area.

Where to stay

There are no permanent accommodation options in this area. We most often choose to stay at Ilmisigiyo Bivouac, a simple campground out the back of a large village, at the foot of the trail to Serengeti.

the epic experience of arriving into the Serengeti on foot