Lake Natron

Lake Natron is one of Tanzania’s most fascinating and dramatic natural landscapes. Located in northern Tanzania near Lake Manyara, this alkaline soda lake lies within the Gregory Rift, the eastern branch of the East African Rift Valley. The lake sits at the base of Ol Doinyo Lengai, an active volcano that holds great cultural significance for the Maasai people.

Unlike most lakes in Tanzania, Lake Natron is extremely shallow, usually less than three meters deep, and its size changes depending on rainfall and evaporation. The lake stretches roughly 57 kilometers in length and 22 kilometers in width, forming a striking landscape surrounded by volcanic mountains and wide open plains.

Temperatures in this region can exceed 40°C, and rainfall is seasonal, mostly occurring between December and May.