Balashram Maasai Bush Trek

You will need to arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport or Planet Lodge Arusha hotel by 1300hrs on Sunday at the latest. You will be met at the airport by our representative who will transfer the Sunday morning arrivals to the Planet Lodge hotel where we will meet and greet our fellow international Balashram trekkers who have arrived earlier. From here we will drive to Big Rock Camp, in the foothills of Mt. Longido, a journey time of approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes.

If you are travelling long haul, we advise you plan to arrive the day before or early in the morning to avoid missing the group departure. If we have time today, we will have a short acclimatisation trek in the African bush, to familiarise ourselves with the environment and equipment and to settle in to our first camp site at Big Rock Camp. Conditions are likely to be very hot and dry and unlike anything you are used to, so take today to ease in gently. Overnight at camp.

Today we will enter some wonderful game viewing areas as we head into increasingly hot and arid bush.   Look out for zebra, gerenuk, giraffe and countless birds. The trail is rocky to start and becomes increasingly dusty, so bandanas or face masks are very useful. Today and tomorrow the route crosses a low saddle between Mounts Kitumbeine and Gelai. Located between these great volcanoes is the old swamp of Nagarirat, which is now a dust bowl. We will camp on a relatively high point with great views over the incredibly beautiful surrounding country.

Rise and shine early to trek across untamed bush towards the Sunken Crater (26kms). We will cross a beautiful plain marked by dead volcanic vents towards the escarpment of the Rift Valley, which rises from the bush up to the Ngorongoro Crater Highlands. Today’s trek will probably be the hottest so far, so pack sun block, reflective clothing and wide-brimmed hats. Our trek will take us to the impressive Sunken Crater where we camp overnight at the rim of the crater. However, it can get cold and breezy after sunset so pack a windproof, warm jacket. (See recommended kit list.)

After meditation and breakfast, and depending on your return flight time (for example the Ethiopian Airlines flight to London departs at 1735hrs), you may wish to relax at the hotel, have a look around Arusha or transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport. We are planning two transfer runs to the airport; the times of these will depend on the times of participants flights and will be communicated to the group a month before the trek commences.