Lake Natron
Lake Natron and Ol Doinyo Lengai
Lake Natron lies in the Rift Valley north of Ngorongoro, below the active volcano of Ol Doinyo Lengai. It is hot, remote and quite different from the parks, and it is where most of the world's lesser flamingos are born. Below are the main sites, how to get there and the permits you will need.
What to see
The lake, the volcano and three sites around Engare Sero and Engaruka.
Lake Natron
A shallow soda lake in the Rift Valley near the Kenyan border, coloured red in places by the microorganisms that live in its very alkaline water. It is the only regular breeding site in East Africa for the lesser flamingo, and most of the world's lesser flamingos are born here.
- Size
- up to 57 km by 22 km
- Depth
- less than 3 m
- Status
- Ramsar wetland since 2001
Ol Doinyo Lengai
The Maasai call it the Mountain of God. It is the only active volcano on Earth known to erupt natrocarbonatite, a lava that runs cooler than most and turns white as it weathers. The last large explosive eruption was in 2007 and 2008.
- Height
- 2,962 m
- Climb
- about 6 h up, from midnight
- Guide
- local Maasai guide required
Engare Sero waterfall
A walk up a narrow river gorge to a waterfall with a pool at its base. The trail crosses the river several times, so water shoes or boots that can get wet are a good idea.
- Walk
- about 2 h return
- Water
- up to hip depth
- Guide
- local Maasai guide required
Engare Sero footprints
Over 400 human and animal footprints preserved in a volcanic mudflow from Ol Doinyo Lengai, found in 2006 near Engare Sero village. The tracks belong to at least 20 people, most of them adult women walking together.
- Age
- 6,000 to 19,000 years
- Site
- about 300 m²
Engaruka ruins
The remains of an iron-age farming settlement on the Rift escarpment, with stone-lined irrigation canals and terraces. It once had seven villages and was abandoned in the mid-18th century. The ruins lie on the road between Mto wa Mbu and Lake Natron.
- Founded
- about the 15th century
- Farmland
- about 20 km²
Getting there
Every route ends on unpaved roads, so a 4x4 is needed. The drive times below are estimates from published travel guides and depend on the state of the road.
Arusha, via Mto wa Mbu and Engaruka
about 5 h
About 110 km of tarmac to Mto wa Mbu, then roughly 110 km of unpaved road to Engare Sero.
Northern Serengeti, via Klein's Gate
4 to 5 h from Klein's Gate
Gravel to Wasso, tarmac for a stretch, then gravel again, with the last 20 km the roughest.
Karatu, on the NCAA geopark route
a full day
The NCAA's Oldoinyo Lengai route runs from Karatu along the Rift to Lengai, Lake Natron and the Engare Sero footprints.
If you are combining Natron with a safari, we recommend seeing Ngorongoro and the Serengeti first and continuing to the lake from the north of the park through Klein's Gate, with a night near the gate, as a same-day drive from the central Serengeti is not practical. From Natron you can return to Arusha via Engaruka and Mto wa Mbu.
Permits and guides
- Lake Natron is outside the national parks and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, in a Wildlife Management Area, so TANAPA and NCAA park fees do not apply.
- A Wildlife Management Area permit is sold at an office in Engare Sero, which takes card or cash. Bring cash in case the card machine is down.
- Local village and district fees are also charged. They are not published officially and change from time to time, so please ask us for the current figures.
- The waterfall walk and the Lengai climb are done with a local Maasai guide. On the NCAA's geopark route, an NCAA-certified guide must accompany you.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Lake Natron?
Lake Natron is in northern Tanzania, in the Rift Valley on the border with Kenya, and its northern tip extends into Kenya. Ol Doinyo Lengai rises just south of the lake. The main base for visitors is Engare Sero village, near the southern shore.
When is the best time to see flamingos at Lake Natron?
Lesser flamingo breeding at Lake Natron depends on rainfall and the water level of the lake, so the numbers vary from year to year. Travel guides recommend December and January, when most of the eggs hatch. The birds are sensitive to disturbance while they are breeding.
How do you get to Lake Natron?
The usual route is from Arusha to Mto wa Mbu on tarmac, then on an unpaved road through Engaruka to Engare Sero, which takes about five hours in total by most estimates. From the northern Serengeti, the drive from Klein's Gate takes about four to five hours. A 4x4 vehicle is needed on both routes.
How hard is it to climb Ol Doinyo Lengai?
Ol Doinyo Lengai is a steep and demanding climb. Most climbers leave at around midnight and take about six hours to reach the summit for sunrise, and the whole climb takes six to twelve hours depending on your pace. The climb must be done with a local Maasai guide, and as Lengai is an active volcano, conditions on the mountain should be checked shortly before you go.
Do you pay park fees at Lake Natron?
Lake Natron lies outside the national parks and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, so TANAPA and NCAA park fees do not apply there. Instead, visitors buy a Wildlife Management Area permit at an office in Engare Sero, which accepts card or cash, and local village and district fees are also charged. These local fees are not published officially and change from time to time, so please ask us for the current figures.
Can I combine Lake Natron with the Serengeti?
Yes. Travel guides suggest visiting the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and the Serengeti first, then continuing to Lake Natron from the north of the park through Klein's Gate. A same-day drive from the central Serengeti is not practical, so it is best to spend a night near Klein's Gate on the way.
Is Ol Doinyo Lengai still active?
Yes. Ol Doinyo Lengai is an active volcano. A large explosive eruption began in September 2007 and continued into 2008, forcing nearby villages to evacuate, after which activity returned to smaller lava flows.
Related pages
Ngorongoro highlands guide
Empakaai, Olmoti, Olduvai Gorge and the other sites around the crater.
Ngorongoro Crater fees 2026
The full NCAA tariff and how the permits work.
Park gates of northern Tanzania
Klein's Gate and the other Serengeti, Ngorongoro and Tarangire gates, with opening hours.
Great Migration safari
A private itinerary that follows the herds through the Serengeti.
Sources and Maintenance
Where these figures come from
Site facts come from the NCAA and published references. Drive times, walk and climb times are estimates from travel guides, and local fees at Lake Natron are not published officially.
- NCAA: Engaresero footprints site (checked 31 October 2026)
- NCAA: Engaruka ruins (checked 31 October 2026)
- NCAA: Ngorongoro-Lengai UNESCO Global Geopark (geopark routes and guide rule, checked 31 October 2026)
- Wikipedia: Lake Natron (size, depth, Ramsar listing, flamingo breeding, checked 1 November 2026)
- Wikipedia: Ol Doinyo Lengai (height (Global Volcanism Program), lava, 2007 to 2008 eruption, checked 1 November 2026)
- Roadtrip Africa: Visiting Lake Natron (Klein's Gate route, WMA permit, flamingo season, checked 1 November 2026)
- Jambo Nairobi: Oldoinyo Lengai, the Western Trail (Arusha route via Engaruka, climb times, checked 1 November 2026)
- Journey Era: Ol Doinyo Lengai (guide requirement and climb times, checked 1 November 2026)
- Journey Era: Ngare Sero waterfall (guide requirement, walk time and water depth, checked 1 November 2026)
- Roadtrip Africa: Lake Natron travel guide (Wildlife Management Area status and permit, checked 1 November 2026)
Add Lake Natron to your safari
Tell us your dates and whether you would like to climb Lengai, and we will build Natron into your itinerary with every fee listed on the quote.