Mount Ol Doinyo Lengai rises about 2,100 meters above the East African Rift Valley floor to a height approximately 2,890 m above the sea leval. The name Ol’doinyo Lengai which means “Mountain of God” originates from the Maa language (the Maasai’s language) from Ngorongoro area. Overlooking Lake Natron and bushland of Kenya to the North, Ol donyo Lengai is an active volcano and one of Tanzania’s most spectacular and undiscovered climbs. The climb undertaken overnight so hikers can experience sunrise over the rift valley escarpment, is highly challenging. This incredible Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano is situated in the Lake Natron area. And this climb is also combined with some other activities of short excursion to Ngare Sero Waterfall, also the visit on Lake Natron’s shore.
This Soda Ash Lake, NATRON – (60mts wide, 1-1.5mts deep), which temperatures rising to over 50°C, that heats up the soda ash making it the most conductively favorable nesting fields, for over 2 million flamingo chicks hatched annually, scattering around the rest of the E. African soda lakes. That heat and soda ash dust makes this place to be the ashiest living environment on Earth thus guarantees no predators close to the eggs or newly hatched chicks. Zebras, elephants, giraffes, can be viewed on driving to a campsite and on walking to waterfalls. Also you should not underestimate this 9,442 feet high mountain, as it needs much determination to climb because of the steep walking.
The Lengai is located along the East African Rift Valley wall escarpment north-east of the NGORONGORO highlands. The mountain of God is the most unique active volcano in the world mainly because it erupts Natrocarbonatite lava; (a much cooler liquid and non sticky black/grayish crude oil like lava) with temperatures of over 500°C, unlike the other volcanoes which produces basaltic lava with temperatures rising above 1,100°C.
The less violent active volcano has been witnessed by many volcano enthusiasts ever since the early seventy’s and has become a great attraction of late. While the lava flow appears like a white water flowing streams and brownish mud they form into solidified lava crystals that reflect sharp sparks when hit by rays.
The low gas content lava glows to extreme red-orange pool during the dark within the crater rim and around the solidified peaks of volcanic lava cones creating a spectacular display.
The last minor explosions of Lengai are reported to have been witnessed by a group of touring climbers in the beginning October 2005.There is a beautiful camping base for Mount Oldonyo Lengai climbers and hikers. Munge River water falls provides the most desired power shower after the tedious climb.
