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The Great Rift Valley stretches from the north of Ethiopia to Malawi/Mozambique. Steep cliffs and volcanic activity are typical characteristics of the drifting apart of tectonic plates. Spewing out huge amounts of sodium carbonate every now and then, Ol Doinyo Lengai is the last remaining volcano in Tanzania. Its outpour is washed down the steep inclines into Lake Natron by rain. At roughly 600 m high, the lake is located at the lowest elevation of the East African Rift Valley. The high temperatures here cause large amounts of water to evaporate, making Lake Natron strongly alkaline. These extremely harsh conditions are ideal for the growth of algae and plankton, which in turn makes Lake Natron an important breeding ground for flamingos.

Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano rises majestically above Lake Natron like the guardian of a lost world. Seen from the lake, the volcano has a perfectly conical shape and is a great source of fascination for both visitors and natives, who refer to it as the “Mountain of God”.

The ascent of the volcano happens at night, as the temperatures are too high during the day. You need to pay a local Maasai a fee to guide you. Our vehicle will take you to the starting point of the ascent, usually on the west side of the volcano. The ascent is possible in 4 hours for the fitter and mountain-accustomed guests, 6 hours for the slower ones. The first part of the route is difficult due to the ashes and the dust. It then gets steeper and steeper in two stages until it becomes a proper climb. You have to be sure-footed and free from giddiness, but you certainly do not need special climbing equipment.

At the top you can walk along the crater rim and you can actually see the lava glowing in the crater. Sunrise is at about 6 o'clock and it is time to start your descent as it becomes hot very quickly. The way down is difficult due to the sharp rocks and you have to be careful not to break your legs. Time required about 3 hours.

The ascent routes may change due to the activity of the volcano. Local people will give you advise and will show you the best way. Recently, the volcano has also been climbed from the northern side.