3-Day Experience Lake Natron

Ol Doinyo Lengai sits just next to the escarpment of the Great Rift Valley. So it's part of the intersection between the highlands and the great plain below. It's also only a stone's throw from Lake Natron and the Ngare Sero waterfall.

Mount Ol Doinyo Lengai is an active volcano in northern Tanzania, and so has a large crater at the summit. The highest point of the crater rim is 3,188 m (10,459 ft) above sea level.

You start the climb at an elevation of roughly 1,100 meters (3,600 ft). This means you climb two vertical kilometres to reach the top!

The climb involves a fairly straight climb to the crater rim, followed by a long descent back to the starting point. It's a very steep climb and ascent, and so isn't for the fainthearted!

We really do mean it when we say it's a steep climb!

Ol Doinyo Lengai is also quite unusual for being a night-time climb. Only the descent is done in the daylight. As we discussed in a bit, this is to avoid the worst heat of the day. Setting off at around midnight adds an extra layer of adventure to the whole affair!

Another special thing about an Ol Doinyo Lengai climb is that you're at the top of the mountain, or near to it, when the sun rises. From the rim, you gaze down into the yawning crater mouth. The smell of sulphur can be strong. This is an active volcano, after all!

Ol Doinyo Lengai is very near the Equator, and so the region is very hot much of the time. The temperature often climbs above 30℃.

It's generally too hot to climb Ol Doinyo Lengai during the day.

To avoid climbing in the heat, you'll start the hike a little after midnight.

Everyone wears headlamps to help them navigate the climb, even when there's moonlight. The aim is to reach the top by sunrise and enjoy the spectacular views brought on by the rising sun!

You'll then descend the mountain during the morning hours, usually reaching the base at around noon. The sunlight is helpful with the tricky descent.

You'll then trot off back to your accommodation for a shower or swim, followed by lunch and a nap during the highest heat of the day.

The ascent takes anywhere between four to six hours, depending on your fitness. The descent takes about the same length of time.

The whole climb takes around 8 to 12 hours depending on your fitness and pace.

The cost of an Ol Doinyo Lengai climb will depend on where you're staying, as each establishment will organise your climb for you and will have a different price. At Lake Natron Camp, the climb is actually free if you stay for three or more nights.

Guide

That said, you can normally expect to pay in the region of US$70 for an Ol Doinyo Lengai climb, provided you're not a solo climber. You're likely to pay around $100 for a solo climb. This fee should include a guide, food and drinking water, but always check on what's included beforehand.