Ol Doinyo Lengai is a currently active volcano located in northern Tanzania. It features a volcanic cone that includes two craters, with the northern crater having erupted in recorded history. What sets it apart from other volcanoes on Earth is its eruption of natrocarbonatite, a type of magma that is both highly fluid and erupts at an unusually low temperature. The eruptions that occurred between 2007 and 2008 had an impact on the nearby areas.
In Maasai, “Oldoinyo Lengai” means “The Mountain of God.” It stands 2962 meters above sea level and provides direct views into the caldera of Tanzania’s only officially certified active volcano. Moreover, it is the world’s only carbonatite volcano. Eruption records have been kept since 1883, with the largest ash depositing 100 kilometers away in Loliondo on the Kenyan border to the northwest. It is located in northern Tanzania, just south of Lake Natron in the Rift Valley, in the heart of Maasai country, and is considered a sacred mountain by the Maasai.
Lake Natron’s hot barren salt flats stretch into the distance as seen from its summit crater. The crater Highlands and the Ngorongoro Crater are to the south. Kilimanjaro dominates the eastern horizons, while the western slopes of the Rift Valley are dominated by forested escarpments and hills. Every seven years, Lengai erupts, spewing plumes of smoke from the crater.
The crater floor can be traversed on foot. The ascent of Oldoinyo Lengai is difficult due to the daytime heat, lack of water, steep and unsuitable ash and crumbly rock slopes, and significant height gain. Normally, you can begin ascending to the summit early in the morning and arrive at sunrise. Shorts and a warm jacket are recommended for the ascent, as the summit before dawn can be cold. The North West access route allows for an early descent from the summit in the morning shadow.
Mountain Ol Doinyo Lengai, standing at 2,878 meters above the Soda Ash Lake Natron, Mountain of GOD as known to the Maasai community who inhabit the area, is located in the Ngorongoro highlands and the African Rift valley about 120 kilometers northwest of Arusha, Tanzania. Maasai have used the Holly Lengai for prayer to their GOD known as NGAI since their forefathers. Ol doinyo Lengai is the world’s only active volcano that spews natrocarbonatite lava, which is cooler than other lavas.
Minor eruptions occur frequently on the mountain, forming cone-like structures at the crater’s base. While on the summit of Mountain Ol’doinyo Lengai, one can clearly see the Soda Lake Natron, which houses and provides good nesting sites for various bird species, particularly flamingos, pelicans, and geese. Additionally, more than 350 different types have been recorded to date.
In comparison to the other highest mountains in Tanzania, Lengai takes about six to seven hours to reach the summit crater. The Mountain is also an excellent location for a walking safari led by Maasai guides armed with weapons. Tourists can see olive baboons, velvet, monitor lizards, hyenas, lions, leopards, jackals, Grant’s gazelle, impalas, and also zebras. Nearby are the Maasai BOMAS, which allows you to interact with the indigenous people and learn about their cultures, taboos, as well as traditions.
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