5-Day Mountain Trek – Oldoinyo Lengai
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Description
5-Day Mountain Trek – Oldoinyo Lengai : Join Serengeti Trips Tanzania for the adventure of a lifetime as you watch the sun rise from the summit of Oldoinyo Lengai which is known as the Mountain of God to the local Maasai people and visit the wild, remote and hauntingly beautiful, Lake Natron. This is a physically challenging safari and not for the faint -hearted.
Day 1 Welcome to Tanzania
Welcome to Tanzania. Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport or Arusha Airport you will be met by a Benson Safaris Tanzania representative and transferred to your hotel where the remainder of the day is at leisure – rest in your room, relax in the gardens, enjoy a swim in the pool or explore Arusha and surrounding areas on one of our day ours, the choice is yours.
Day 2 Lake Natron
Depart Arusha after breakfast and drive to Lake Natron, wild and remote, it is situated at the base of Africa’s only active volcano, Oldoinyo Lengai, known as the Mountain of God to the local Maasai people. The area around Lake Natron contains some of the most harsh and amazing scenery in Africa and is utterly breathtaking. Together with your Guide, you will be accompanied by a local Maasai Guide and walk up to the Engero Sero Waterfalls. Winding up through the shady gorge you will reach a beautiful natural swimming pool surrounded by steep rock walls showered by cascading spring water where you will have the opportunity to swim.
Day 3 Lake Natron & Oldoinyo Lengai
Lake Natron is one of the most alkaline lakes in the world. Home to millions of tiny crustaceans, the lake is a haven for literally thousands of flamingos and it is one of the most important flamingo breeding grounds on earth. It is the landscape rather than the animals that is the attraction – the area around the lake is dry, desolate and hauntingly beautiful. After breakfast you will walk out across the baked mud to the shores of the great Soda Lake. From here, you can look back at the memorising view of Oldoinyo Langai standing tall amongst the rolling hills and flat plains. Its ash-grey colour will remind you that this is still an active volcano. You will return to camp in time for lunch and a leisurely afternoon before enjoying an early dinner and retiring to your tent for some rest. At approximately 11pm, you will be woken up with tea or coffee and a light snack before meeting your Maasai Mountain Guide and beginning your trek into the night.
Day 4 Oldoinyo Lengai
Your climb will continue into the early hours of the morning before reaching the summit in time to witness the sun rise as it illuminates the Great Rift Valley below. The views are breathtaking. To the north you will see the salt flats of Lake Natron and in the distance, the Kenyan border. To the east you will see Mount Kilimanjaro and the Great Rift Valley and to the south stretches the Ngorongoro Highlands and Ngorongoro Crater.
Together with your Guide, you will explore the peak and enjoy a picnic breakfast before beginning your climb down the mountain where you will be welcomed back with lunch before returning to Arusha where the remainder of the day is at leisure.
Day 5 Farewell Tanzania
Today you will be transferred to the airport for your onward flight.
Visa & Entry
Accesible Tanzania
Travelling to Tanzania
Vehicles rented
Safari Booked
Happy Customers
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.
Price Range
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Location / Contacts
- Address : Arusha, Tanzania
- Phone : +255687590560
- Mail : info@serengetitrips.com
- Website : http://serengetitrips.com/
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