Empakaai Crater, Impact crater in Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania
The Empakaai Crater spans 6 kilometers in width and contains a deep alkaline lake covering 75 percent of its base at 85 meters depth.
The crater formed during the Pleistocene epoch through volcanic activity, creating a caldera structure within the Ngorongoro Conservation Area of northern Tanzania.
The crater, known as Kasoko la Empakai in Swahili, serves as a protected area under UNESCO Biosphere Reserve status for environmental conservation.
Visitors must arrange guided hikes with armed rangers, which typically take 30 minutes to descend and two hours to ascend the crater walls.
The crater rim reaches 3,200 meters on its western side, offering views of Mount Kilimanjaro, Lake Natron, and the active Oldoinyo Lengai volcano.
Address: Empakaai Crater, Tanzania
GPS coordinates: -2.91260,35.78710
Latest update: March 5, 2025 20:19
Tanzania provides photographers with an extraordinary range of subjects, from the Serengeti plains to Zanzibar's coastline and Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest peak in Africa at 19,341 feet (5,895 meters). The country contains major wildlife reserves including Tarangire, where elephant herds move between baobab trees, and the Ngorongoro Crater, which holds a dense concentration of large mammals within its 100-square-mile (260-square-kilometer) caldera. Coastal regions and offshore islands like Mafia and Pemba offer opportunities to photograph coral reefs, sea turtles, and traditional dhow boats. The Mahale Mountains support habituated chimpanzee groups, while Selous Game Reserve presents riverine landscapes and diverse animal populations. Stone Town's historic quarter features Arab, Persian, and Indian architecture spanning several centuries, including the House of Wonders and the narrow alleys of the former trading port. The less visited Katavi National Park delivers scenes of hundreds of hippos crowding shrinking pools during the dry season. Kondoa rock art sites preserve prehistoric paintings dating back as far as 30,000 years. The active volcano Ol Doinyo Lengai and alkaline Lake Natron with its flamingo flocks add geological interest. From the terraced hillsides of the Usambara Mountains to the wildflower meadows of Kitulo National Park, Tanzania covers nearly every photographic interest.
Serengeti National Park
150.3 km
Ngorongoro Conservation Area
49.2 km
Mount Meru
114.3 km
Laetoli
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Amboseli National Park
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Ol Doinyo Lengai
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Tarangire National Park
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Kilimanjaro National Park
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Lake Manyara National Park
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Ngorongoro Crater
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Arusha National Park
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Olorgesailie
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Engaruka
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Olduvai Gorge Museum
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Kikuletwa Hot Springs
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Arusha Declaration Monument
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Sheikh Amri Abeid Memorial Stadium
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Ngurdoto Crater
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Ol Doinyo Orok
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Barranco Glacier
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Lake Manyara Biosphere Reserve
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Great Penck Glacier
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Olmoti Crater
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Little Penck Glacier
173.1 km
New Safari Hotel
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Arusha clock tower
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Serengeti Hippo Pool
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Olduwai Gorge
47.1 kmReviews
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