The ultimate Helicopter Safari to Entamanu Ngorongoro
A spectacular scenic flight over the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and the volcanoes that make up the Northern Rift of Tanzania, a totally unique and dramatic area. The volcanic region of northern Tanzania has an incredible diversity of landscapes and is rich in Maasai culture.
The excursion will start from Arusha. Fly over Mount Meru then north to Lake Natron in the hot valley floor. As we fly up the lake you will see its ever changing colours - reds, purples and oranges, a consequence of its algae rich water which attracts numerous flocks of flamingos. We will continue on to fly around the coolest active volcano in the world, Ol Doinyo Lengai, and land on the edge to peer into its bubbling crater. Here we stop for our picnic. Finally we climb up the Rift Valley past Empakai Crater to the Ngorongoro Crater, where we land inside the crater at the airstrip. A Nomad car and guide will be waiting for you to take you to Entamanu Ngorongoro.
MOUNT MERU
Mount Meru is a dormant volcano, located in the Arusha National Park. It is an extremely volatile mountain, with its first eruption 1.5 million years ago, blowing out close to a third of its circumference. The last eruption was in 1910. It stands at a height of 14,968 feet, making it the fifth highest mountain in Africa. The mountain has several craters and cones, evidence of its volcanic activity. The most prominent caldera is 2.2 meters wide and the the Ngurdoto Crater is 3.6 kilometers wide.
As we approach the mountain we will climb up to 13,000 feet and follow the mountains sharp peaks. We will fly around the mountain to glance at the changing forest and follow the path of the river. We will fly around the mountain to glance at the changing forest and follow the path of the river. On a clear day you will have a picturesque view of Mount Kilimanjaro.
LAKE NATRON
This primeval-soup like shallow alkaline lake is high in cynobacteria, an algae that releases a chemical which damages the cells, nervous system and liver of most of the organisms that consume it. These salt loving microorganisms thrive in this alkaline water, creating the rich red colour. The lake is a flamingo paradise as they do not have to contend with any predators and can feed on the algae, as a result 75% of the worlds population of lesser flamingo are born on the shores of Lake Natron.
