Lake Natron & Ol Doinyo Lengai

Stunning Lake Natron, and the nearby active volcano Ol Doinyo Lengai, are located in Northern Tanzania near the Kenyan border, just north of the Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area. Lake Natron and Ol Doinyo Lengai occupy a surreal landscape, overshadowed by the Rift Valley Escarpment.

Lake Natron is a soda lake with a large resident population of flamingos. It is also an excellent area to visit authentic Maasai communities, experiencing first-hand the Masai culture.

Foot safaris along natural river gorges are another possibility, as there are waterfalls, plunge pools and a natural spa fed by water coming from the Ngorongoro Crater Conservation Area.

At the head of the valley lies Ol Doinyo Lengai, Tanzania's only active volcano. It is unique because it is the only volcano in the world that produces natrocarbonatite lava. This unique and amazing geological feature is the most remarkable geological sight Tanzania has to offer, towering over the desolate landscape produced by the ash falling from its constant eruptions.

‘Ol Doinyo Lengai’ means ‘mountain of God’ in Maa, the Maasai language, and when you see an eruption underway (last eruption in 2008/9) you can understand how the mountain got its name. It is usually possible to climb Ol Doinyo Lengai, if the volcano is not erupting too savagely, and although the climb is hard (some might say savage) the views from the top are truly breath-taking.