"Oldoinyo Lengai" means The Mountain of God in the Maasai language. The summit of
this strato-volcano is 2962 metres above sea level, and affords direct views into the caldera
of Tanzanias only officially-certified active volcano, and the worlds only carbonatite
volcano; records of eruptions have been maintained since 1883, the largest of which deposited
ash 100 kilometres away in Loliondo on the Kenyan border to the north west.
Where is Located ?
It is located in northern Tanzania lying just south of Lake Natron in the Rift
Valley, in the heart of Maasai country, and locally regarded as a sacred mountain.
Looking north from it summit crater, the hot barren salt flats of Lake Natron
stretch into the distance. To the south stretch the crater Highlands and the
Ngorongoro Game Reserve. The eastern horizons dominated by Kilimanjaro and to the
west the forested escarpments and hills comprising the western slopes of the Rift
Valley. Every seven years Lengai erupts and plumes of smoke billow out of the
crater. It is possible to walk across the crater floor. The ascent of Oldoinyo
Lengai is demanding on account of the day time heat, lack of water, steep and
unsuitable slopes of ash and crumbly rocks and considerable height gain. Normally
you can start ascending to summit early in the morning and reach to summit at
sunrise. Short and a warm jacket are suitable for ascent, also long trousers are
good as the summit before dawn can be cold. Access route from the North West allows
an early descent to be made from the summit in the morning shadow.
Standing at 2,878 meters above the Soda Ash Lake Natron, Mountain of GOD as famous
to the Maasai community that inhabit the area, Mountain Oldoinyo Lengai is
situated in the Ngorongoro highlands and the African Rift valley about 120
kilometers Northwest of Arusha, Tanzania. Since the past ancestors the Holly
Lengai has been used by Maasai for their prayer to their GOD known as NGAI.
Ol�doinyo Lengai is the only active volcano in the world that erupt natrocarbonatite
lava which is cooler than other lavas about (510 degrees C) compare to the
temperatures of basaltic lavas (1,100 degrees C) with less silicon.
The Mountain frequently does minor eruptions and form cone like structures to its
crater base. While on the summit of Mountain Oldoinyo Lengai one can sight clearly
the Soda Lake Natron which accommodates and consist of good nesting sites for
different bird species especially the Flamingos, pelicans and geese more than 350
different types are recorded to date.
Unlike others two highest Mountains, Lengai takes about six to seven hours to the
summit crater. Also the Mountain is an ideal place for a working safari escort by
the Maasai guides with weapons tourist can sight wild animals like olive baboon,
velvet, monitor lizard, hyenas, lion, leopard, jackal, Grant gazelle, impala and
zebra.