Overview
Lake Natron is wild and hot, with salt flats, flamingos and the steaming cone of Ol Doinyo Lengai. Guided walks lead to the flamingo flocks and up the Engare Sero gorge to a hidden waterfall.
Lake Natron is a shallow soda lake in the Rift Valley near the Kenyan border, and the most important breeding site in East Africa for lesser flamingos. The landscape is raw and hot, with the active volcano Ol Doinyo Lengai rising over the lake.
From the camps near Engare Sero you can walk to the lake shore, follow a river gorge to a waterfall, and see ancient human footprints preserved in volcanic mud.
Highlights
- Flamingo flocks
- Ol Doinyo Lengai night climb
- Engare Sero waterfall
- Maasai guides
Things to do here
Wildlife to look for
- Lesser flamingo
- Ostrich
- Gerenuk
- Zebra
- Fringe-eared oryx
Good to know
Best time to visit
June – December
Getting there
About 5–6 hours by rough road from Arusha, or from the northern Serengeti.
Where to stay
Simple tented camps and eco-lodges near Engare Sero.
How long to stay
1–2 nights
Key facts
- Region
- Rift Valley, northern Tanzania
- Volcano
- Ol Doinyo Lengai, 2,962 m
- Known for
- Lesser flamingo breeding, Engare Sero footprints and waterfall
Seasons
Dry season (June – December)
The best time to visit; flamingo numbers are often high late in the year.
Rainy months
Roads become difficult, especially from March to May.
Practical tips
- It is very hot: bring a hat, sunscreen and plenty of water.
- Climbing Ol Doinyo Lengai is a night hike for fit walkers only.
Questions about Lake Natron
June – December.
More places nearby
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