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Introduction to Lake Natron

Renowned for its unique landscape, Lake Natron is incomparable to other places in Tanzania.

The place has charm and houses the famous mountain of god, Ol Doinyo Lengai. It is also where Tanzania’s deadly lake exists!

Why visit Lake Natron?

Natron offers good game viewing. You may encounter animals like gerenuk here.

It is the only well-known breeding site for millions of lesser flamingos, covering the lake from August to October.

It’s so wildly different from the neighboring attractions and houses Tanzania’s deadly red lake.

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Getting to Lake Natron

By Road

You can reach Lake Natron by road for around 2 hours from Manyara or Ngorongoro. However, note that the journey will be bumpy.

By Air

By air, you can fly from Arusha Airport, which usually takes around 1 hour to reach Lake Natron.

Best Time to visit Lake Natron

First, it’s best to know that Lake Natron is visitable all year round.

However, particular months offer excellent game-viewing experiences, like June to October, which is the dry season.

These months are slightly cooler. The area is too hot from December to February during the short dry season. The flamingos gather at the lake in August and continue to amass until October.

Let's plan your trip around Lake Natron.

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Weather in Lake Natron

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec

Things to do in Lake Natron

You can do day hikes to the Great Rift, bird watching, and much more at Lake Natron.

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Wildlife in Lake Natron

Though Lake Natron has lesser wildlife, its haunting beauty is incomparable. So, seeing its beauty firsthand is something you shouldn’t miss out on!

Uniquely printed, zebras are among the animals that reside in Lake Natron. They are usually found grazing in the sparse grasses around the lake.

Zebra

Another animal species you'll likely spot at the lake are the fringed-eared oryxes. These are relatively muscular antelopes with short, slim legs.

Fringe-eared oryx

Resembling much of a deer, gazelles are thin, graceful antelopes. They are identified by their white rumps, reddish-brown or tan coats, and curved, ringed horns.

Gazelle

Other antelope species in Lake Natron are the gerenuks. Their names mean "giraffe-necked" in Somali, referring to their exceptionally long necks.

Gerenuk

Upon entering Lake Natron, among the wildlife encounters you may have, are with the lesser kudus. These are striking striped antelope species in Natron.

Lesser kudu

The golden jackals are among the animals residing in Natron. These opportunistic foragers feed on various animals, small reptiles, hares, and fish frogs.

Golden jackal

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Birds in Lake Natron

With over 250 bird species, Lake Natron is one of the best places for bird watching. Your eyes will surely have a feast!

Flamingoes are among the most common birds you'll find in Lake Natron. They are tall, pink birds with long, lean, curved necks and bent bills.

Greater and Lesser Flamingos

Another bird species you'll likely see flying around the lake are the African fish eagle. These are stunning birds with milky white heads and tails.

African Fish Eagles

Songbirds are among the birds you'll likely hear singing in Lake Natron's vicinity. They own a specialized foot, allowing them to perch on branches.

Songbirds

Flightless and huge common ostriches are among the birds you'll have a chance to see in the Lake Natron area.

Common Ostrich

The Egyptian Geese are beautiful bird species with distinctive pink bills, long necks, and brown eye patches. These characteristics make them hard to forget.

Egyptian Goose

Known as weak fliers, the crested francolins usually only perch on tree branches or the ground. They only fly short distances when disturbed.

Crested Francolin

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Landscape in Lake Natron

Although Lake Natron is relatively small, it boasts several hauntingly beautiful landscapes that you can check out below.

Among the hauntingly beautiful landscape of Lake Natron is its soda lake. The lake is famous for its tale of turning animals into stones.

Soda Lake

Natural pools are among the landscapes you can find in Lake Natron. You can cool off here after your walking activities.

Natural Pools

The Ngare Sero Water Falls is a favorite among tourists. The scenery here is a unique mix of tropical palms and arid volcanic rocks.

Ngare Sero Water Falls

Another stunning landscape you'll ever see in your life at Lake Natron is the Rift Valley. It's a great alternative to climbing Mount Ol Doinyo Lengai.

Rift Valley

Experiencing the beauty of Ol Doinyo Lengai is a must when visiting Lake Natron. Do an overnight climb to the peak if you feel adventurous.

Ol Doinyo Lengai

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Where to stay in Lake Natron

Staying at the campsite to Luxury Glamping with an amazing view of Ol Doinyo Lengai is available here.

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Top questions answered for Lake Natron

Lake Natron is unlike anywhere you’ve been before. So, you have questions. We’ve been visiting for decades. So, we have answers.

Can you go to Lake Natron?

You can go to Lake Natron for its spectacular scenery and the possibility of taking a challenging night hike to Oldoinyo Lengai, the mountain of God.

Is Lake Natron worth visiting?

The answer is that it depends on the activity you want to do. For instance, if you want an excellent game-viewing experience, this is not the place to be.

Though the place is uniquely beautiful, the wildlife here is scarce. But, if you intend to see the red lake and the Oldoinyo Lengai, the place is worth visiting.

What is the mystery behind Lake Natron?

The mystery behind Lake Natron is its eerie ability to turn animal corpses into stone. The lake’s high sodium bicarbonate content preserves the animal’s body, leaving behind statue-like figures.

Can Lake Natron turn you into stone?

Not at all. However, you may have a corrosive burn if you touch the water for quite some time.

What is the best time to visit Lake Natron?

You can visit Lake Natron year-round. However, the ideal time to visit there would be during the dry season—from late May to early November, which happens to be slightly cooler.

Visiting, particularly in August, is a good option since flamingos gather around the lake at this time.

Can you touch Lake Natron?

No. If you accidentally touch the lake’s water, your eyes or skin will likely be damaged.

Why is Lake Natron so deadly?

Lake Natron is not deadly. It houses some wildlife and birds, most prominently the lesser flamingos. These birds casually wade the caustic water without any problems.

What happens if you get submerged in Lake Natron water?

If you get your body submerged in the waters of Lake Natron, your body will stop decomposing due to the water’s high salt content.

In other words, you’ll be preserved like a pickle in brine.

When was Lake Natron Discovered?

Lake Natron was discovered in 1954 by the Europeans. But before that, the lake was still unknown and isolated.

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Other parks, lakes, and mountains

There are more attractions in Tanzania besides Lake Natron. So, if you have some time, consider checking them out.

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