Lake Natron

A red soda lake below Ol Doinyo Lengai and the main breeding ground for East Africa’s Lesser Flamingos.

Lake Natron sits in the floor of the Great Rift Valley, close to the Kenyan border, with the active volcano Ol Doinyo Lengai rising to the south. The water is shallow, hot and highly alkaline, and in the dry season salt-loving microorganisms turn parts of it red.

Few animals can live in water like this, which is exactly why Lesser Flamingos breed here. Natron is the most important breeding site for the species in East Africa, and huge flocks feed along the southern shore near Ngare Sero.

Away from the water, the dry Rift Valley scrub has its own birds and some unusual mammals. We usually combine Natron with the Ngorongoro highlands, or use it as a dramatic back route towards the northern Serengeti.

Getting there

From Arusha we drive west to Mto wa Mbu, then north through Engaruka on a rough dirt road. Allow four to five hours. Natron also links to the northern Serengeti through Loliondo, a long but very scenic drive.

Where to stay

Tented camps and simple lodges near Ngare Sero village at the southern end of the lake. Days are hot, so rooms with shade and a breeze matter more than luxury.

Our guides’ tips

Bird the shoreline early in the morning. By midday it is very hot and the light is harsh.
The flamingo nesting grounds are far out on the mudflats and are off-limits. The feeding flocks near the shore are the ones you will see.
Bring sandals you can get wet for the walk up the Ngare Sero gorge to the waterfall.
Carry plenty of water. There is little shade on the lake shore.

Common questions

Can you see flamingos nesting at Lake Natron?

No. The nesting sites are deep in the lake and protected. You see large feeding flocks along the southern shore instead.

How hot does it get?

Very hot. Midday temperatures often pass 35°C, so we bird early and late and rest in the middle of the day.

Can I combine Natron with the Serengeti?

Yes. Natron links to the northern Serengeti through Loliondo, and it is about four to five hours back to Arusha or the Ngorongoro area.

Safaris that visit Lake Natron

No set itinerary here yet. Ask us for a custom trip and we’ll plan one around your dates.

Wildlife

Iconic wildlife of Lake Natron

The animals, trees and reptiles our guides look for here, with the best season and where to find them. See the full wildlife guide.

Giraffes on the plains with Mount Meru behind, northern Tanzania

Mammal

Masai giraffe

Giraffa tippelskirchi

Tanzania’s national animal, with jagged star-shaped patches. Common almost everywhere except inside the crater.

Seen in

Arusha National Park, Tarangire National Park, Serengeti National Park, Lake Manyara National Park, Ruaha National Park, Lake Natron, Lake Eyasi

Zebras on the plains of northern Tanzania

Mammal

Plains zebra

Equus quagga

The migration’s other half. Hundreds of thousands of zebra move with the wildebeest across the Serengeti.

Seen in

Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire National Park, Arusha National Park, Lake Manyara National Park, Lake Natron, Lake Eyasi

Tree

Umbrella thorn acacia

Vachellia tortilis

The flat-topped tree of every safari photograph. Giraffes browse it and leopards sleep in it.

Seen in

Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire National Park, Lark Plains, Lake Natron, Lake Eyasi

Mammal

Grant’s gazelle

Nanger granti

The tall, pale gazelle of the open plains, happy a long way from water. Look for the white rump that reaches above the tail.

Seen in

Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire National Park, Lark Plains, Lake Manyara National Park, Lake Natron

Mammal

Fringe-eared oryx

Oryx beisa callotis

A desert-adapted antelope with long, straight horns and tufted ears, able to go for long periods without drinking.

Seen in

Lake Natron

Mammal

Gerenuk

Litocranius walleri

A long-necked antelope that stands on its hind legs to browse on leaves other antelope cannot reach.

Seen in

Lake Natron

Mammal

Lesser kudu

Tragelaphus imberbis

A shy, striped antelope of dense dry bush. Males carry long spiral horns.

Seen in

Lake Natron, Tarangire National Park, Ruaha National Park

Birding

Birds to look for in Lake Natron

Specialities, endemics and the birds that make this place different, chosen by our birding guides. Browse all birds.

Resident

Secretarybird

Sagittarius serpentarius

A raptor that hunts on foot, stamping snakes to death in the grass. Unmistakable striding across the plains.

Seen in

Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire National Park, Lark Plains, Lake Natron

Resident

Kori Bustard

Ardeotis kori

The heaviest flying bird in the world, pacing the plains with its neck puffed up in display.

Seen in

Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire National Park, Lark Plains, Lake Natron

Resident

Lesser Flamingo

Phoeniconaias minor

Pink crowds on the soda lakes. Numbers rise and fall with the water, so your guide checks before you go.

Seen in

Lake Manyara National Park, Arusha National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, Serengeti National Park, Lake Natron, Lake Eyasi

Resident

Black-winged Stilt

Himantopus himantopus

Pink legs longer than seems sensible, wading the soda lakes among the flamingos.

Seen in

Lake Manyara National Park, Arusha National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Natron, Lake Eyasi

Resident

Greater Flamingo

Phoenicopterus roseus

The tallest flamingo, pale pink with a pink, black-tipped bill. It sifts small invertebrates from the mud rather than algae.

Seen in

Lake Natron, Lake Eyasi, Lake Manyara National Park, Arusha National Park

Resident

Chestnut-banded Plover

Charadrius pallidus

A small, pale plover with a fine chestnut breast band, found almost only on the shores of salt and soda lakes.

Seen in

Lake Natron, Lake Eyasi, Lake Manyara National Park

Resident

Great White Pelican

Pelecanus onocrotalus

Huge white pelicans that often fish in groups, herding fish into the shallows before scooping them up together.

Seen in

Lake Natron, Lake Eyasi, Lake Victoria, Lake Manyara National Park

Activities

Things to do in Lake Natron

How a day here is spent, from game drives to walks and boat trips. All safari activities.

Hartlaub’s Turaco in Arusha National Park

Any length, from a morning walk to a 27-day expedition

Birdwatching

More than 1,100 species, dozens of endemics, and guides who find most birds by ear. Our speciality.

Waterfall in the montane forest of Arusha National Park

One to four hours

Walking safaris and nature walks

Leave the vehicle behind. Walk with a ranger to a waterfall, across the plains, or into Eastern Arc forest.

Eastern Arc forest in the Usambara Mountains

Half day to full day

Forest hiking and waterfalls

Hike through ancient Eastern Arc rainforest to Sanje Falls and the viewpoints of the Usambaras.

Village on the plains near the Ngorongoro highlands

One to two hours

Maasai cultural visits

Meet the communities who share the land with the wildlife, on their terms and with the fee going to them.

Guests watching wildlife with binoculars from a Charles Tours safari vehicle

Any safari

Wildlife and bird photography

Vehicles positioned for the light, beanbags on the window, and a guide who understands what you are trying to capture.

Two to three hours

Flamingo walk at Lake Natron

A guided walk across the southern shore of Lake Natron to the feeding flamingo flocks.

Explore other Tanzania destinations

More parks, plains and forests our safaris visit, each with its own wildlife, birds and best season.

Start planning your safari

Tell us your dates and the birds or animals you most want to see. We’ll reply within 24 hours with a route and a full quote.

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