10-Day Northern Circuit Safari
Arusha Tarangire Lake Manyara Lake Natron Serengeti Mara River Ngorongoro Zanzibar
From, per person$6,690
Photo: Clem23, CC BY-SA 3.0
Tanzania safari
2-Day Lake Natron & Ol Doinyo Lengai Tour
Overview
Heat, soda flats and a volcano that still erupts: Lake Natron lies low in the Great Rift Valley close to the Kenyan border, and it feels nothing like the busy northern parks. Ol Doinyo Lengai, the mountain the Maasai call the Mountain of God, rises over the southern end of the lake, and the shallow, salty water is the main breeding ground for East Africa’s lesser flamingos.
Two days give you a proper first look. You drive out from Arusha through Maasai grazing country, walk across the lake flats toward the flamingos in the afternoon, visit a Maasai homestead and watch the light fade over the escarpment. The next morning you follow a river gorge to a waterfall, wading across the stream a few times on the way, before lunch and the drive back to Arusha.
Tanzania Tourism Safaris runs the trip privately in a 4×4 Land Cruiser with an English-speaking guide. You sleep at a mid-range lodge or tented camp near the lake, and the area entry fees and the guided Natron activities are included. It suits walkers, birders and anyone curious about the Rift Valley beyond the classic game-drive circuit.
Tour highlights
- Views of Ol Doinyo Lengai, an active volcano
- Walk across the lake flats toward feeding flamingos
- Waterfall hike through the Engare Sero gorge
- Visit to a Maasai homestead near the lake
- Sundowner above the Rift Valley escarpment
Day by day
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Day 1 Arusha to the Shores of Lake Natron Stay Mid-range lodge or tented camp near Lake NatronMeals Lunch, Dinner
Your guide collects you from your Arusha hotel after breakfast and heads north into the Rift Valley. Tarmac gives way to dusty tracks, Maasai herders and wide open views, and the cone of Ol Doinyo Lengai grows larger as you near the lake. After lunch at your lodge and a rest through the hottest hours, walk out across the lake flats with a local guide toward the flamingos feeding in the shallows. A short visit to a nearby Maasai homestead and a sundowner on a hilltop above the lake round off the day.
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Day 2 Gorge Waterfall Walk and the Road Back to Arusha Meals Breakfast, Lunch
Set out soon after breakfast, while the air is still cool, for a walk of about an hour up the Engare Sero gorge. The path winds between dark volcanic rock and palm trees, and you cross the river several times, so wear shoes that can get wet. At the end of the gorge, a waterfall pours down the rock face. Walk back to the lodge for a hot lunch, then start the drive back to Arusha, where your guide drops you at your hotel.
Prices by season
Per person in US dollars. The price depends on when you travel and how many travelers share the trip.
| Season | 1 traveler | 2 travelers | 4 travelers | 6 travelers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low season 1 Mar – 31 May | $1,013 | $675 | $547 | $504 |
| High season 1 Nov – 20 Dec and 6 Jan – 29 Feb | $1,066 | $711 | $576 | $531 |
| Peak season Now 1 Jun – 31 Oct and 21 Dec – 5 Jan | $1,185 | $790 | $640 | $590 |
Tour price includes
- Private transport in a 4×4 Land Cruiser from your Arusha hotel to Lake Natron and back
- Lake Natron area entry fees
- Guided Lake Natron activities, including the flamingo walk and the waterfall hike
- Professional English-speaking guide
- One night at a mid-range lodge or tented camp near the lake
- Lunch and dinner on Day 1; breakfast and lunch on Day 2
- Drinking water, tea and coffee
Tour price excludes
- International flights
- Tanzania visa fees
- Travel insurance
- Souvenirs and other personal spending
Questions about this safari
Do we climb Ol Doinyo Lengai on this trip?
No. On this tour you see the volcano from the lake and the surrounding hills, and the hiking is limited to the gorge walk to the waterfall. Climbing Ol Doinyo Lengai is a steep ascent, usually started in the middle of the night, that needs an extra day and good fitness. Ask us if you would like to add it.
How hot does it get at Lake Natron?
Very hot. The lake lies low on the floor of the Rift Valley, and midday temperatures are high for much of the year. That is why the walks are planned for early morning and late afternoon. Bring a sun hat, sunscreen, light long-sleeved clothing and plenty of water, and rest in the shade at midday.
Are flamingos always there?
Usually, but their numbers rise and fall with the season and with water levels, and at times the birds feed far out on the flats, so the walk brings you only a distant view. Your guide will take you to wherever they are feeding on the day of your visit.
Before you go
Where you will go
Parks on this safari
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