![]() Hiking to the breeding site of the Rüppell’s griffon vulturesįrom the small town of Ngare Sero on the south side of Lake you can walk to the Ngare Sero gorge where the Rüppell’s griffon vultures nest. This is an off-the-beaten-track destination you won’t regret visiting. It is incredibly stark and beautiful, clearly showing its geological origins. The landscape in the Lake Natron region is out-of-this-world. Marvel at the red of Lake Natron and the surreal landscape around it It’s an incredible sight you will never forget. The lake is also home to more than 400 other birds species, including many water birds. This is the only breeding site in East Africa and the most important in the world, with 75% of the world’s lesser flamingo population coming here to breed. A tough climb, but the views from the top make it all worthwhile. And you can climb this pretty volcano covered with white ashes, making it look like it is covered with snow or ice. The lava is incredibly fluid (like water) and is ‘only 500 degrees C’ (‘normal’ lava is around 1000 degrees C). The world’s only active volcano that produces lava, containing almost no silicon. The rewards are massive, sitting on top of a seismic giant, rumbling and grumbling, occasionally belching out a puff of black dust as you absorb the surreal beauty far and wide. The ascent is pretty tough, taking six to seven hours of climbing on steep, unstable slopes. The lava flows can solidify pinkish-white, green-white and yellow-white, giving the impression that Ol Doinyo is snow-capped.įrom the summit there are fantastic views over the red, hot Lake Natron, stunning Ngorongoro Conservation Area and across to majestic Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru in the distance. Cold is relative, though, as it flows at 500 degrees Celsius but this is around half the temperature of regular molten rock. It is also the world’s only carbonatite volcano, spewing out ‘cold’ lava. Ol Doinyo Lengai is 2,890 meters high and is Tanzania’s only active volcano. This superficially desolate land is incredibly ancient and dramatic. The unusual moonscape is an amazing unexplored adventure zone. ![]() The blue-green algae that thrive in this environment turn the lake an eye-popping red and orange and as it’s the lesser flamingoes favorite food, it is the most important breeding site for them in the world. The majority of species can’t deal with the lake’s searing temperatures and high alkalinity, but a small type of tilapia (fish) and flamingos call it home. Sitting at the base of Ol Doniyo Lengai it is one of the most un-inhabitable and harsh environments on Earth. The lake is fed by the waters from both the Ewaso Ngiro River and hot alkaline springs. Lake Natron is 57 km long, 22 km wide and less than 3 meters deep. About Lake Natron and Oldonyo Lengai Lake Natron If you are active you can even hike to the top in a long day-hike, well worth it for the stunning views from the top. Oldoinyo Lengai, meaning the mountain of God, forms a backdrop to this prehistoric looking area, or perhaps it is better to describe it as from out-of-this-world? The active volcano is pyramid shaped and looks like it is topped with ice or snow, but this is, in fact, white ash. The incredible redness of the lake, best seen from the air, the flamboyance of millions of flamingos in the breeding season, the hot springs ensuring there is still some water left in this vast lake, and the other plains animals (including wildebeest, zebra, oryx, gazelle and even the odd cheetah and lion) that can be found here, especially from December to April. ![]() So why would you visit? The harsh surroundings immediately show the origins of this place, but look beyond this desolation and you will see it. Lake Natron, a very alkaline lake almost caustic which hardly supports any life.
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