Experience Lake Natron & Mount Oldoinyo Lengai Volcano mountain
Literally translated as “The Mountain of God”, Mount Oldoinyo Lengai is revered as sacred by the local Maasai communities. It is apt, then, that as you stand on the summit you could almost be said to be looking directly into the fires of hell, as it overlooks the caldera of Tanzania’s only officially-certified active volcano and the world’s only carbonatite volcano. With an eruption every seven years, smoke billows from the crater as locals are reminded of Lengai’s formidable power.
Climbing Oldoinyo Lengai is a demanding challenge as the rocky, ash-covered slopes are crumbly and unstable, and the ascent is steep. Additionally, the heat can be crippling, which is why it is best to set out early in the morning and aim to reach the summit at sunrise.