Ol Doinyo Lengai Volcano Climb

A night climb up Tanzania's active volcano to watch sunrise from the crater rim above Lake Natron.

2 days Strenuous Lake Natron From $1,141 per person

Ol Doinyo Lengai Volcano Climb · 2 days

Package Overview

Ol Doinyo Lengai, the Maasai "Mountain of God", is the only volcano on Earth that erupts natrocarbonatite lava, which flows black and turns white in the air. The climb is short but brutally steep: you start at 1am to avoid the heat and reach the crater rim at 2,960 metres for sunrise over the Rift Valley and Lake Natron, often hearing the lava bubbling inside. The trip includes a night at Lake Natron with a walk to the Ngare Sero waterfall and flamingos on the lake.

Highlights

Sunrise from the crater rim of an active volcano
Hear the lava moving inside the crater
Flamingos on Lake Natron
Ngare Sero waterfall walk
Maasai country along the way

Route map

Day 1 Lake Natron → Day 2 Ol Doinyo Lengai

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day 1 • Arusha to Lake Natron

Lake Natron

Leave Arusha in the morning for the long drive north through Maasai country to Lake Natron, arriving around lunchtime. In the afternoon walk up the Ngare Sero gorge to the waterfall, wading through the stream, then drive down to the lakeshore to see the flamingos before an early dinner and bed.

Note: Wear sandals you can walk through water in for the waterfall hike.

Activity · NGARE SERO WATERFALL

A guided walk of about two hours up the gorge to the falls, with stream crossings.

Day 1 Accommodation, Lake Natron Meal Plan: Full board

Where you'll stay:

Camp — Lake Natron Camp

Lake Natron

Day 2 • Night climb, crater rim and return to Arusha

Ol Doinyo Lengai

Your driver takes you to the foot of the volcano at 1am. The climb takes 5–7 hours up loose, steep ash slopes, with a breakfast stop on the way, and you reach the crater rim at 2,960 metres around sunrise. The descent is the hardest part on the knees, so take it slowly. Your driver meets you at the bottom with cold drinks, and after a shower and lunch at camp you drive back to Arusha.

Note: This is a hard climb for fit hikers. Bring a fleece for the cold start, a sun hat, and at least three litres of water.