Breeding Site for Lesser Flamingo in the World

Situated in the eastern branch of Africa’s Great Rift Valley. It is quite shallow, less than three meters deep, and varies in width depending on its water level, which changes due to high levels of evaporation, leaving high levels of salt and other minerals.
Lake Natron is famous as one of the breeding site for the flamingos in east Africa. This lake is formed on the basin of the Great Rift Valley on slopes of Mt.Oldonyo Lengai the recent erupted volcanic mountain and Ngorongoro highland slopes. Lake Natron tour will include activities like visiting the waterfall, short tour to the lake natron and enjoying Masai culture.

Drive

Takes around three hours from Mto wa Mbu (beside Lake Manyara). It is hot but with the Rift Valley rising up on your left hand side, the landscape is increasingly dramatic. You will soon focus on the scenery: looking around, the views are spectacular. Drive deeper, and green vegetation gives way to a sparse, dusty landscape. Only the occasional Maasai homestead now dots the landscape. To the north of this track stands active mountain Oldoinyo Lengai – whose name means “mountain of god" in the Maasai language. Wildlife of Lake Natron

The area around Lake Natron is home to some wildlife, you might see the occasional giraffe or zebra – but this is not the main reason to come here. Instead, visit this area for its remoteness, scenery and for an interesting route into the back of Loliondo. The lake also supports a vast population of Spirulina, a blue-green algae with red pigments, on which the large population of Lesser Flamingoes feed on.

Few predators can survive here, and the result is a safe breeding ground for the flamingos who return here annually to nest.

Activities around Lake Natron

Walk up to the Engero Sero Waterfalls. This walk winds up through a shady between steep cliffs. There's a bit of gentle scrambling involved, and you'll also cross the river a few of times. However, after a few hours you'll reach a beautiful natural swimming pool surrounded by steep rock walls – showered by cascades of spring-water and overlooked by palm trees Climb Oldoinyo Lengai this climb usually starts at midnight, and you climb for around six hours, through the night, to reach the spectacular views of the top by sunrise. Anyone embarking on this walk must understand that it is a very tough climb, and that as this is an active volcano, so high risks are involved. Oldoinyo Lengai is not a climb to take lightly, or without thinking seriously about the possible consequences

Lake Natron as part of a safari

Lake Natron does have some wildlife, but this is not the main reason to come here. Instead visit this area for its remoteness, its scenery and some interesting walks – as well as for a stop on an interesting route after or before safari

Overview

This area is hot and often very dry and dusty, but for those who do choose to visit Natron, they are rewarded with an area that is far off the beaten track and sees relatively little tourism. It is also some of the most dramatic scenery we have seen in Tanzania and the journey here is worth it for the views alone.