Ngosi Crater | Informal Campsite

February 8th, 2024 by thoughtfuledward18

The area is still a geothermal power plant building site. There are a couple of guys who stay there all night, so it's safe enough. The workers arrived around 9:30am and started work around 10:30am. The guys who live there don't speak English, but they are happy if you camp. They will phone Frank, who speaks excellent English, and Frank will tell you to pay one of the guys 23000Tsh ($10) if you hike up to Ngosi crater rim. The ranger wasn't there but I was told he would receive my money.

The hike up to the crater rim is interesting - through giant banana plants, proper dense jungle and a muddy trail. You'll probably see colobus monkeys. Look out for beautiful sunbirds with a shiny green head and red breast.

You'll be swarmed by flies the whole way. Suggest wearing trousers and long sleeves. Hike is medium difficulty, minimum 35 minutes. The lake is amazing, although the view is partially obscured. You probably get a better view from the north eastern side where most tourists go. But at this viewpoint you'll be alone. I didn't go down to the water because the descent is very steep, and I guessed the view would be worse. There is a visible trail from the viewpoint (as OP describes).

You can cycle to this campsite, through muddy roads.

December 4th, 2023 by scholziger.de

This campsite has been transformed to a "Geothermal Power Plant Project" now. Construction will be finished 2024-02. You can still camp there if desired. New ablution block has just been built. I instead drove some 1.4 km back the gravel road and camped alongside of it, enjoying the forest atmosphere.

Hiking up is still possible and very recommendable! From the view point you can also "climb" down the steep descent to the waterline, where you have to hold with your hands on roots in a few places.

The ranger for paying your 10 $ fee is irregularly at the site. If you still want to pay even though he is absent, do it via M-Pesa to +255 768 541 212 (Hussein Mayunga).

September 11th, 2023 by Ambassadorsoffreedom.com

Prices mentioned below are accurate! However we didn’t stay at the camping spot, because all kind of machinery and materials were now stored here for building something. Absolutely not an idealist jungle spot at the moment. Still went for a hike to the crater rim, which was amazing and took us about 1.5-2h in total.

August 22nd, 2023 by notime_vanlife

We met the ranger in the gate and he explain us everything. actually their are in lack of worker that why sometimes people can go for free because there is anyone to the gate.
the real price are :
- 10$ or 23'000 for no residents
- 5$ or 12'000 for residents
if you enter in the forest with the car you have to pay 15$

- if you want a guide : 15$

for the camping site
1 tent 1p : 10$
1 tent 2 to 5 person : 15$
1 tent more than 5 : 20$

all the ranger had the official uniform with the logo "tanzania forest services agency" or the POS machine to collect the money. if the don't show you this or wear a uniform they are not official! Don't pay !!

May 20th, 2023 by Overlanderdream

Great spot in the middle of the jungle. Felt really remote and safe. No one around bothering us. There is no gate anymore. Highly recommended to stay at this special jungle clearing.

August 10th, 2022 by instagram.com/out.of.africa._

Beautiful place in the middle of the jungle! But when we arrived at around 17:00 nobody was at the gate so we just lifted the barrier by ourselves snd drove to the camp spot. Later two guys on a motorbike came and asked for the entrance fee (23'000 tsh per person). After long discussion with the guys and also their "boss" on the phone we paid this cause we wanted them to leave. But we didn't pay for camping or for a security guy, what they also wanted to sell us in the beginning. We wrote a receipt by ourselves. The next day (after the short but amazing hike to the crater) when we left there were guys at the barrier. They said the two guys with the motorbikes weren't official... But in the end they let us pass and we didn't need to pay again.

So we recommend you only to pay at the official barrier!

October 23rd, 2014 by Tucks' Truck

Wild camp in a jungle clearing at the start of the climb to the Ngosi Crater lake. 4x4 track!