North of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, near the Kenyan border, lies one of Tanzania’s most remote and otherworldly destinations. Lake Natron is a shallow soda lake with a pH close to that of ammonia — almost nothing can survive in its waters except an algae that sustains large flocks of flamingos. The surrounding landscape is desolate, dusty, and scorchingly hot, with daytime temperatures regularly exceeding 40°C (104°F). It is extraordinary precisely because of this harshness.
A visit to Lake Natron includes walking along the lakeshore, hiking to a waterfall, and cultural tourism with the local Maasai community. One to two days here is enough to experience it all.
Towering above the area is Ol Doinyo Lengai — “Mountain of God” in the Maasai language — an active volcano at 2,962m (9,711 ft) sacred to the Maasai people. Its lava is uniquely cool by volcanic standards, flowing like water and solidifying into a white powder. The climb is widely considered the most physically demanding in Tanzania — steeper and harsher than Kilimanjaro. It begins at midnight to avoid the daytime heat and requires gaiters, gloves, a dust mask, and 4–5 litres of water per person. We can arrange the climb with a liability waiver, but we do not recommend it lightly.