![]() Lake Natron’s deceptively glassy surface. Its average alkalinity is 10.5, its pH surpasses 12, and its water temperature ranges from 40˚ to 60˚C. This concentrated the trona (sodium sesquicarbonate dihydrate) and natron (hydrated sodium carbonate) in the leftover water, creating a highly toxic brine. Since the lake had no outflow and received irregular rainfall, it endured thousands of years of intense evaporation from the heat. During the Pleistocene period, a rare type of lava rich in sodium and potassium carbonates ran down the slopes of the Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano and into the lake. It’s fed by the Southern Ewaso Ng’iro River in Kenya. This shallow but wide lake is just three metres deep but 22km wide. Tanzania has no less than four alkaline lakes, but Lake Natron is the most famous. Lake Natron is a hypersaline and highly alkaline lake located in the eastern section of the volatile East African Rift. In North Tanzania, a unique inland lake turns wildlife to stone. That’s a legend, but a natural wonder in Africa today does just that. Questions have been offered quickly and they have been flexible and open in helping us plan a trip for our specific timetable and interests.We all know about the Greek monster Medusa, whose deadly gaze turned men to stone. Their team has been wonderfully accessible, responsive and thoughtful. "We have been planning a safari trip with Yellow Zebra. We loved! the 2 areas recommended by Yellowzebra, one in North Kenya and the second one in Mara with their different." Our safari in Kenya was absolutely wonderful. "Flawless booking process tailor made to our requests, fantastic trip suggestions and recommendations and amazing organisation onsite. "We have not left on Safari yet, but so far very impressed with the detail and professional planning of our trip." She was always friendly and helpful, even after we made several rounds of changes to the trip! Above all, she had a great in depth kn." She then helped us design a trip that met our specific needs. "The agent took the time to ask us what our specific interests were, and what we wanted from our trip. Working with James and his team is always a pleasure. Coordinating a trip across 3 countries and 6 different camps/hotels with bush flights etc was executed perfectly. Our first was outstanding and our 2nd just as outstanding. "We recently got back from our 2nd safari with Yellow Zebra. Travellers benefit in turn by enjoying truly authentic cultural experiences, among the best in Tanzania! The former are mostly Maasai people, benefiting from local tourism. As a result, there is a close and often symbiotic relationship between human and wildlife communities here. The area is also notable for its location on village land rather than within a game reserve or national park that prohibits human settlement. This is one of the world’s largest collections of human footprints and well worth a visit. Descend to the shoreline however and marvel at ‘the Lake Natron footprints’, fossilised footfalls preserving moments over 120,000 years ago when two groups of Homo sapiens traversed the volcanic-ash terrain. ![]() With a magical location ‘guarding’ Lake Natron, Ol Doinyo Lengai is an extremely steep climb – but reach its peak and you are rewarded with breathtaking views over Ngorongoro, Kilimanjaro and all the volcanoes of the Rift Valley! On a clear day this view is absolutely outstanding. Surrounded by the Great Rift itself, scenery really is what this destination is all about! Activities around Lake Natron Scenery however is breath taking and with a population of lesser flamingo (approximately 2.5 million, the largest breeding colony in the world) congregating on the lake shore to feast on the blue-green algae Spirulina, you are guaranteed a spectacular sight! Other wildlife highlights include spotting the long-necked gerenuk, but neither of these matches the sheer majesty of the landscape of Natron. ![]() The area does not claim to rival the neighbouring Serengeti and Ngorongoro for wildlife numbers – big game is sparse here. The scenery is phenomenal some of the most spectacular in Africa. Approximately six hours drive from Arusha itself, this is an area well off the beaten track, consisting of a near-pristine forest reserve and extensive grass plains interspersed with mountains, rocky hills, and even a live volcano – Ol Doinyo Lengai, ‘Mountain of God’ in Maasai. The lake sits close to the Tanzania/Kenya border, in the Arusha region. ![]()
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