About Lake Natron
Lake Natron is a soda lake at the base of the active Ol Donyo Lengai volcano, the area around Lake Natron is often described as having a desolate and almost lunar beauty. Lake Natron is found in the northern part of Tanzania. Nearest towns to Lake Natron are Arusha in Tanzania and Magadi in Kenya. It is the most important breeding site for Lesser Flamingos in the world.
East Africa has 1.5-2.5 million Lesser Flamingos, representing three-quarters of the world population and most of them are hatched at Lake Natron. Food is plentiful, nesting sites abound – and above all, the lake is isolated and undisturbed. The lake and its ecosystem provides a source of livelihoods to the local communities.
High levels of evaporation have left behind natron (sodium carbonate decahydrate) and trona (sodium sesquicarbonate dihydrate). The alkalinity of the lake can reach a pH of greater than 12. The surrounding bedrock is composed of alkaline, sodium-dominated trachyte lavas that were laid down during the Pleistocene period. The lavas have significant amounts of carbonate but very low calcium and magnesium levels. This has allowed the lake to concentrate into a caustic alkaline brine
Walks around the lake and to the streams and waterfalls along the nearby escarpment make for a fantastic adventure off the beaten track.
There are a number of campgrounds near the lake, which is also the base for climbing Ol Doinyo Lengai.
Sample Itineraries
These are some of our recommended tours. They can be customized by on your interested and group size. contact us now to customize these tours.
10 Days Wildlife & Cultural Experience
10 Days, 9 Nights
Lake Eyasi • Serengeti • Ngorongoro • Zanzibar
8 Days North Tanzania Safari
8 Days, 7 Nights
Tarangire • Serengeti • Ngorongoro • Lake Manyara
4 Days Adventure Camping Safari
4 Days, 3 Nights
Serengeti • Ngorongoro
Our Popular Destinatins
Ngorongoro Crater
Mount Kilimanjaro
Serengeti
Lake Manyara
Tarangire
Zanzibar
What you need to know
What is the accommodation like on safari?
Safari lodges have guest rooms similar to a hotel with en-suite bathrooms. They are comfortably furnished with all facilities normally associated with a 3-star hotel. Tented lodges have rooms which are tents on a platform and with a roof and also have en-suite facilities with showers, flush toilets and hot as well as cold running water! Like a hotel bathroom. The safari lodges and bigger tented lodges can be more “touristy” and being larger establishment they can be a bit impersonal if you are travelling alone or as s couple.
When is the best time to visit?
The best time to visit is through a dry season. Jun to October is the most preferred months to visit this park.