Lake Natron: Ol Doinyo Lengai Hike & Flamingo Walks
Jema Safaris A 3-day safari Lake Natron: Ol Doinyo Lengai Hike & Flamingo Walks
This 3-day tour is your ticket to one of Tanzania’s true hidden gems — Lake Natron. It takes you far off the beaten track into dramatic volcanic landscapes and surreal salt flats. For experienced trekkers, there’s the option to summit Ol Doinyo Lengai, the only active carbonatite volcano in the world — a tough night climb with stunning views at sunrise.
This tour includes 2 nights at Lake Natron Camp, allowing you to stay lakeside and enjoy sunrise walks, waterfalls, and clouds of nesting flamingos, congregating here from July to late October. The region is also home to some of the most authentic Maasai communities in Tanzania — cultural visits aren’t included by default, but we’ll happily arrange one if it calls to you.
Lake Natron has so much more of raw and wild nature! Check out the itinerary below to see all of it.
- Availability: Year-round from 2026
- Duration: 3 days
- Locations: Lake Natron and Ol-Doinyo Lengai climb
- Start: Kilimanjaro International Airport,
- End: Arusha
Itinerary Details
Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), Tanzania
Transfer to Arusha
Overnight at Planet Lodge
Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, you’ll be warmly welcomed by a Jema Safaris representative and transferred to the charming Arusha Coffee Lodge. Set within one of Tanzania’s largest coffee plantations, this boutique lodge offers a peaceful escape with views of Mount Meru. Settle in and unwind, or enjoy a stroll through the lush gardens before dinner.
This day will take place at Lake Natron, a very remote place. Often featured in wildlife magazines, Natron is the only place in the world that has red-hued water. The color is attributed to a high content of special bacteria, which have a blood-red color. However, it can only be seen and photographed from a bird's-eye view. Lake Natron has very beautiful African landscapes and wild animals: ostriches, antelopes, zebras, giraffes also live here, but due to its remote nature, there are not many tourists. This is a great place to start or end your safari through Tanzania's northern parks.
It can be quite hot during the day. To freshen up, you can swim in the springs nearby. Water flows into them directly from the slopes of the Ngorongoro Reserve. It is very pure and well-saturated with sulfur. Some scientists believe it is beneficial for the development of bones in the body. We're not sure about that, but it's definitely not harmful. Also, several authentic African tribes live around the lake, including the famous Maasai. You may visit their settlements and see their way of life.
It is a good idea to go to bed early today - you’ll need to wake up around 11:00 PM to begin your Ol Doinyo Lengai adventure.
Ol Doinyo Lengai climb
Tonight you will climb Ol-Doinyo Lengai, which is an active volcano. This is a sacred place for the Maasai tribe, who believe that the supreme god, called “Ngai”, lives on this mountain. Beyond the traditional beliefs, this is a very interesting volcano that has been studied by scientists for years, as it releases a unique type of lava found nowhere else in the world. During your trek, your guide will explain more about the history and customs associated with the Ol-Doinyo Lengai Volcano.
Ol Doinyo Lengai is one of the few active volcanoes remaining in East Africa. It has a very unusual composition of lava, which scientists call “carbonatite”. Its temperature is about 500-600 degrees Celsius, which, although it seems incredibly hot, is two times less than the lava of other volcanoes. Because of this the lava is not red, but black or dark brown. It is the coldest lava on earth. The only place where the lava is within the crater of the volcano - and you’re certainly not going down there! As you reach the top, you will find ‘active vents’ emitting steam (which is not dangerous for you to touch, and a nice way to warm your hands at the cold top). Climbers will also notice an odor of sulfur, which is characteristic of volcanoes. The height of Ol Doinyo Lengai is 2962 meters above sea level, which is not a height that necessitates high-altitude acclimatization.
Your expedition begins at midnight, so get ready to wake up at 11 pm to have a snack and drink some energizing tea or coffee. The trip by car from the hotel to the foot of the volcano will take approximately 30-40 minutes.
What to wear
- Good mountain climbing boots with reliable protectors;
- Trekking pants;
- Thermal underwear;
- Fleece jacket;
- Membrane jacket (over fleece);
- Fleece hat;
- Fleece gloves.
What you need to take with you
- Backpack for mountain climbing with a volume of 25-50 liters.
- Water supply (2.5-3 liters),
- Energy bars or other snacks
- Wet wipes (for the volcanic dust)
- Membrane pants;
- Rain protection poncho;
- Trekking poles;
- Sunscreen;
- Sunglasses
- Headlamp
The ascent is quite difficult physically, in some places you will have to “scramble”, or climb over rocks on all fours. Be sure to bring trekking poles. They will help reduce stress on your knees and shoulders and will be very helpful for navigating the steep descent on the way back. You will reach the top by dawn. From there, a stunning panoramic view of the rising sun, with Lake Natron and the Great Rift Valley will be your view. The scenery from atop this active volcano, especially at sunrise, is truly incredible. When you reach the bottom, your driver will be waiting for you with cold drinks. He will take you to your hotel where you can shower and relax (and probably have a long nap!) after your climb.
Note: the sun is very strong, even in the early morning. Be sure to apply sunscreen on any areas that are exposed. It is very easy to get burned without proper protection.
The Maasai guide will lead the way
It is required to hire a local Maasai guide to climb this mountain. They are sensitive to the traditions and customs, but most importantly - they know how to safely guide groups up this active volcano.
Rates :All Safaris &Zanzibar
Starts From
/Person
- All accommodations (safari lodges, tented camps
- Private 4x4 safari vehicle with professional English-speaking guide
- All park fees, game drives, and crater fees
- Airport transfers (Kilimanjaro & Zanzibar)