Northern Circuit
Lake Natron
A caustic soda lake beneath Ol Doinyo Lengai, the breeding ground for millions of lesser flamingos.
Overview
About Lake Natron
Lake Natron sits in a hot, starkly beautiful rift valley basin beneath Ol Doinyo Lengai, the Maasai Mountain of God and Tanzania's only active volcano. Its alkaline shallows are the most important breeding site in East Africa for lesser flamingos, which gather here in their millions between August and October. Nearby you can hike to Engare Sero waterfalls, walk across the flats to see the lake's famous mineral-preserved bird casts, or climb Lengai overnight for sunrise over the Rift Valley.
The lake varies dramatically with the seasons and the flamingo breeding colony is at its largest from August to October. Roads are rough and remote — best combined with the Serengeti's northern Lobo or Loliondo side.
Best time to visit
June to October
Getting there
About four to five hours by road from Arusha or Mto wa Mbu, or a full day from the Ngorongoro highlands on rough dry-season roads.
Highlights
- •Millions of lesser flamingos
- •Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano climbs
- •Engare Sero waterfall walks
- •Remote Maasai country
Wildlife
What you will see
- Lesser flamingo
- Zebra
- Giraffe
- Ostrich
- Golden jackal
FAQs
Travel information
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