Northern Tanzania
Lake Natron & Ol Doinyo Lengai
The mountain of God and the flamingo nursery
Overview
A caustic red lake at the foot of an active volcano, where nearly every lesser flamingo in East Africa is born. Little about Natron looks like anywhere else on Earth.
The lake's shallow soda water is hot enough and alkaline enough to deter almost all predators, which is exactly why some two and a half million lesser flamingos choose it as their only regular breeding site on the continent. From the air the water runs crimson with the algae they feed on.
Above it stands Ol Doinyo Lengai, the Maasai's Mountain of God — the only volcano on the planet erupting natrocarbonatite lava, cool enough to run black and turn white in daylight. Trekkers leave at midnight to summit by dawn. It is a genuinely hard climb and worth every hour of it.
The landscape
A shallow, blood-red alkaline lake on the floor of the Rift Valley, hemmed by escarpments and dominated by Lengai's perfect grey cone.
Quick facts
- Lengai summit
- 2,962 m
- Drive from Arusha
- ≈ 5 hours
- Famous for
- Flamingo breeding and an active volcano
- Ideal stay
- 1 – 2 nights
Wildlife
Who lives here
- The breeding ground for around 75% of the world's lesser flamingos
- Gerenuk, lesser kudu and golden jackal on the surrounding plains
- Hominin footprints at Engare Sero, roughly 19,000 years old
Seasons
When to come
Dry seasonJune – October
Firm tracks, cooler nights for the Lengai climb.
Wet seasonNovember – May
Waterfalls in the gorges; flamingo breeding activity peaks.
Experiences
Ol Doinyo Lengai night trek · Flamingo viewing · Engare Sero waterfall walk · Maasai cultural visits · Fly-camping
In Pictures
Scenes from Lake
Journeys Here
Safaris that visit Lake Natron & Ol Doinyo Lengai
Good to Know
Questions, answered
Hard. It is roughly 1,600 metres of ascent on loose, steep ash in the dark, typically five to seven hours up. Strong fitness is essential and there is no shame in turning back — many do.
Northern
Pairs well on the northern circuit
Lake Natron & Ol Doinyo Lengai is one of 9 destinations on the northern circuit. Most itineraries combine two or three.
