Lake Natron serves as a refuge and the sole regular breeding location in East Africa for the 2.5 million Lesser Flamingos, with Africa’s tallest active volcanic mountain, Ol Doinyo Lengai, the “Mountain of God in the Maasai language” to the south.

The sodium carbonate and other minerals that flow into the lake from the surrounding volcanic rock hills and lava flows provide the lake’s alkalinity, which does not drain to any river or sea other than evaporation. Lake Natron is one of two alkaline lakes in East Africa, the other being Lake Bahi, which is perhaps the world’s most caustic body of water and perhaps the most striking of all the rift valley lakes, with a PH of 10.5. Situated in the East African country of Tanzania, Lake Natron is fed by mineral-rich hot springs and is less than three meters deep. This breathtaking location is located just north of the Ngorongoro Crater and is part of Africa’s vast Great Rift Valley, which is 600 metres above sea level. A fully stocked bar and candle lit restaurant ensure you have a cold drink and delicious food at the end of an arduous climb or long days walking. Basic but clean safari tents offer showers, comfortable beds and a private veranda. Unique in its setting, Lake Natron Tented Camp is set back in a grove of trees adjacent to the shores of the lake. The lake is home to millions of tiny crustaceans, attracting literally thousands of lesser flamingo’s and it is therefore one of the most important flamingo breeding grounds on earth. Situated at the base of Africa’s only active volcano Oldonyo Lengai (Mountain of God), Lake Natron is one of the most alkaline lakes in the world. Here it is the landscape rather than the animals that is the attraction – the area around the lake inhabited by Maasai is dry, desolate and hauntingly beautiful. Wild and remote Lake Natron lies in the northeast of Tanzania in between the Ngorongoro Highlands and Serengeti plains.

Where is natron lake