January 25, 2015

Lake Natron, what a unique place!


Let’s fly to Ngorongoro Crater, one of the most famous game drive locations of Tanzania. And from here to the border with Kenya, to explore a very special and remote area: the Lake Natron, not far from the active volcano Oldoinyo Lengai.


If you have the chance, don’t miss a visit to one of the most fascinating corners of the World, even though well off the beaten tracks. Its water can reach temperatures up to 60 °C and has an alkalinity between pH 9 and pH 10.5. Unlike the major lands of Tanzania, this environment is not suitable for most of the species.

The chemical composition and the geological setting of this place, on the other hand, are the cause of some phenomena that you can see walking nearby the lake.

Most of predators cannot survive there, but this is the reason why other species settled in this area – such as flamingos returning yearly for the breeding season. The hot and salty water doesn’t harm them, but it keeps their enemies away.



The hot and salty water can be home for creatures, such as cyanobacteria that are typical here, and this is the reason why the lake looks red in some areas. Other flora growing in the Lake Natron is Spirulina, an algae which is food for flamingos.

Thousands pink flamingos, corners where the water is red and minerals are the main actors on the scene… landscape and atmosphere are very unusual here, and this is one of the reasons why it is worthing a trip, if you want to be surprised!


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