A blood-red soda lake below the active volcano Ol Doinyo Lengai, East Africa's main breeding ground for lesser flamingos
Lake Natron lies in one of the hottest and most remote corners of northern Tanzania, on the floor of the Great Rift Valley between the Ngorongoro highlands and the Kenyan border. The lake is very shallow, less than three metres deep, and fed mainly by the Southern Ewaso Ng'iro river, which rises in Kenya. Evaporation leaves water so rich in sodium carbonate and other salts that its pH can exceed 10, and in the dry season algae and bacteria colour the shallows deep red and orange.
For most animals the water is hostile, but for lesser flamingos it is ideal. When water levels are right, vast numbers nest on salt islands in the lake, protected from predators by the caustic water, and the lake produces a large share of the world's lesser flamingos. To the south stands Ol Doinyo Lengai, the Maasai Mountain of God, a steep active volcano that erupts an unusual black carbonate lava which weathers to white. The combination of lake, volcano, escarpment and Maasai country makes Natron a dramatic, off-the-beaten-track extension to a northern safari.
The Natron basin has long been Maasai grazing land, and the volcano at its southern end holds deep spiritual significance: in Maasai tradition Ol Doinyo Lengai is the home of the god Engai. The volcano, about 2,960 metres high, is the only one known to have erupted carbonatite lava in historical times; a large explosive eruption in 2007 and 2008 sent ash high into the air, forced villages to evacuate and opened a new crater at the summit.
The lake was designated a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention in 2001, and the wider area is part of the Ngorongoro Lengai UNESCO Global Geopark. Plans to extract soda ash from the lake have repeatedly raised conservation concerns because of the risk to the flamingo colonies; one major proposal was dropped in 2008. Near the village of Engare Sero on the southern shore, scientists have studied hundreds of human footprints preserved in volcanic mud, thought to be somewhere between roughly 6,000 and 19,000 years old.
Natron is Maasai country, and life revolves around cattle, goats, water and the seasons. Local people run campsites and guiding services, and Maasai guides lead most of the walks around the lake and up to the waterfall. Many travellers find the cultural contact here more personal than on the main circuit, but ask before photographing people, agree on any payment in advance and dress modestly when visiting homesteads.
Most visitors base themselves at camps near Engare Sero village on the southern shore and stay at least one or two nights, as the drive in is long. Short guided walks lead across the mudflats towards the flamingos, and a popular half-day hike follows a river up a narrow gorge to a waterfall, wading through the stream several times; a guide is required and water shoes help. The footprint site near Engare Sero can also be visited with a local guide.
The climb of Ol Doinyo Lengai is a serious undertaking: the slopes are steep, loose and very exposed, and climbers usually set off in the dark to avoid the heat and reach the crater rim around sunrise. It should only be attempted with an experienced local guide and a good level of fitness. Whatever you do here, the heat is intense by late morning, so plan activities for early and late in the day.
The dry months from June to October make the rough access roads easier and the lake's colours most striking, although temperatures are very high. Flamingo breeding depends on water levels and does not happen every year, so numbers vary widely. In the rainy season, especially from March to May, tracks can become impassable. For a Lengai climb, the drier months give the safest footing.
Checked against the sources on 28 October 2026. Opening times and fees can change — confirm before you go.
General guidance from our specialists, not official information.
Engare Sero village on the southern shore is the main base, with camps and guiding. From Mto wa Mbu near Lake Manyara a rough road runs north across the Rift Valley floor via the old stone irrigation terraces at Engaruka, which are part of the UNESCO Global Geopark. Another route links Natron with Loliondo and the northern Serengeti, which some itineraries use to combine the two.
Tanzania · 10 nights5★ LodgeTanzania · 8 nights5★ LodgeTanzania · 5 nights5★ LodgeThis guide was researched from the sources below and reviewed by our team on 28 October 2026. Facts under “Verified information” link to the page they were checked on; travel tips are general guidance. Photos are credited on each image. The ambient recording’s author and licence are shown in the sound player.
