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Ol Doinyo Lengai.
Scenic Area - Tanzania
Ol Doinyo Lengai
Tanzania Scenic Area
Considered by the Masai as the Mountain of God, Ol Doinyo Lengai rises nearly 2,000m from the floor of the Great Rift Valley in Northern Tanzania in a steep, deeply eroded cone. Its flanks fall in a perfect, unbroken curve to the sweltering plains of the valley bottom, a magnificent sight to behold.
Geographically young, but the only active volcano in the region, it rumbles and throws up ashes and gas at its quiet times. It erupted violently from September 2007 to April 2008, sending a column of ash thousands of meters into the air and turning the hills to its west into a ghostly moonscape.
Climbing Ol Doinyo Lengai can be done as a 2 day adventure starting from Lake Natron (accessible by car from Manyara) or as part of a 4 to 5 day walk along the Great Rift from the Highlands in Ngorongoro towards Lake Natron passing the Empakai Crater, Ol Doinyo Lengai and Masai villages along the route, a fascinating walk and not as strenuous as the climb of Kilimanjaro or Meru (although the heat at Lake Natron can be intense).
Known by the Maasai as the "Mountain of God", Ol Doinyo Lengai is nothing short of spectacular.
Best Time to Go
July to March
Size
112km² / 56mi²
July to March
High Season
Wildlife
Zebra, Gazelle, Giraffe
Noteworthy
Scenic Landscapes
Altitude
2961m / 9,678ft.
Natron is accessible from Manyara airstrip, ca. 3 hrs drive through an increasingly amazing landscape.
Mountain of the Gods.
Wildlife around Ol Doinyo Lengai
Little wildlife is to be found in Ol Doinyo Lengai. En route to the volcano, however, bird life is quite abundant. Giraffes can also be seen.
Weather & Climate
Average temperatures around Ol Doinyo Lengai vary very little. Temperatures are enjoyable most of the year although in the afternoon it can get quite hot especially between December and March with extreme heat as you go down towards Lake Natron.
"The power of Ol Doinyo Lengai, an active volcano, captures every safari adventurer venturing through the great rifts around Lake Natron"
The Best Time to Visit
The best time to climb Ol Doinyo Lengai is between July and March to avoid the heavy seasonal rains, from December it can become hot. If you plan to climb the volcano be prepared for a strenuous 8 to 10 hours but amazing views will make it worthwhile.
Ol Doinyo Scenery
Ol Donyo Lengai is an iconic landmark of the Great Rift Valley. To the north, the hot barren salt flats of Lake Natron stretch into the distance. To the south are the crater Highlands and the Ngorongoro Game Reserve. The eastern horizons are dominated by Kilimanjaro and to the west by forested escarpments and. Ol Donyo Lengai is an active volcano with permanent plumes of smoke warning visitors of a possible next eruption.
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