Ol Doinyo Lengai (2890 metres) is located some 240 kilometres to the northwest of
Arusha town, along the western escarpment of the Great Rift Valley, overlooking Lake
Natron on the border with Kenya. Ol Doinyo Lengai, or Mountain of God in Maasai, is
the only active volcano in Tanzania.
The mountain can be climbed in 6 hours, affording breathtaking views of the Great Rift
Valley and volcanic formations in the Ngorongoro highlands as you get to the summit.
It is an adventurous hike starting at dawn. Remember this is an active volcano, the
mountain remains closed for climbing when we have eruptions.
Lying on the base of the mountain, Lake Natron is said to be the only breeding area
for the endangered Lesser Flamingoes that live in the Great Rift Valley and it is
believed to be the world’s most important breeding site for the Lesser Flamingoes,
accounting for 75 per cent of the global population.
The soda lake sits on the lowest point of the Great Rift Valley part in East Africa and
is quite shallow, less than three metres deep, and varies in width depending on its
water level. The temperatures in the lake mud can reach more than 40 degrees Celsius
where evaporation causes high alkalinity. It is said the lake’s high alkaline environment
is a barrier against predators trying to reach the flamingo nests.
The area around Lake Natron is often described as having a desolate and almost lunar
landscape beauty. Walks around the lake and to the streams and waterfalls along the
nearby escarpment, make for a fantastic adventure off the beaten track