It is however the over 2.5 million lesser flamingos whose current status is ‘near threatened’ which do inhabit the deadly yet lovely. Notwithstanding the high temperatures and alkaline levels of the water however, Lake Natron is home to some really endemic algae, invertebrates as well as birds, and in the less salty water around the margins of Lake Natron some fish can survive and thus possible to sight some of them. At the edges of the lake however, there are however salt marshes and fresh water wetlands which support a variety of flora.

With temperatures of Lake Natron measuring up to 60 degrees Celsius, the temperatures therefore are very unfavorable for plant and animals life to prevail here. The alkalinity and nature of the lake makes animals and plant growth impossible, as you shall be welcomed with stone-like shapes of animals which dared or unknowingly walked into the caustic alkaline lake. The high alkaline level of the lake has the pH of the lake more than 12, with the lavas in the lake having significant levels of carbonate but yet low calcium and magnesium levels, thus being referred to as a caustic alkaline brine. Not more that 50cm or less than 3m deep, this is one of the shallow lakes in the world. This is a product of tectonic activity that formed the Ngorongoro highlands and Mount Gelai. The lake is a thrilling phenomenon of its own, with caustic waters enclosed by a crust of sodden grey volcanic ash and desiccated salt, surrounded by reed-lined swamp where hot springs that do sustain the lake bubble to the surface.

Lake Natron skyline is dominated by the volcanic silhouette of Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano which is more than 2km above the Rift valley floor which surrounds it, at an altitude of 2960m above sea level. Lake Natron lies within the Lake Natron basin which is a Ramsar Site wetland of international significance.

Lake Natron Tanzania is found in the Gregory Rift, which is the eastern branch of the East African Rift Valley. Lake Natron is a salt or alkaline lake located in the northern part of the Ngorongoro district of Arusha, in Tanzania. Lake Natron is one of the very places in Tanzania that you may add onto your Tanzania safari itinerary.

Natron lake stone