Ol Doinyo Lengai

About Ol Doinyo Lengai

Ol Doinyo Lengai -- the Maasai "Mountain of God" -- is the only volcano on earth known to erupt natrocarbonatite lava, an unusual, relatively cool black lava that turns chalky white as it weathers, giving the summit crater an otherworldly appearance. It remains active, with the crater floor changing shape between visits as new flows and vents form.

What to Expect

Climbing Lengai is a serious undertaking rather than a casual walk: the ascent typically begins at midnight to reach the crater rim by sunrise and avoid the worst of the heat, over loose volcanic scree that makes for demanding, occasionally strenuous going. The reward is a crater rim view over the Rift Valley and, on clear mornings, across to Lake Natron below.

Best Time to Visit

The dry season from June to October offers the most stable climbing conditions, avoiding the added difficulty of wet, slippery volcanic ash.

Getting to Ol Doinyo Lengai

The mountain rises near Lake Natron in Tanzania's remote north, best suited to fit, determined travelers looking for something well beyond a standard game drive.

Combine With: The climb is often paired with a Lake Natron stay, using a night or two at the base to rest before and after the demanding overnight ascent, and to explore the lake and its flamingos either side of the climb.

Respecting the Mountain

To the Maasai, Lengai remains an actively sacred site, and climbers are expected to approach the mountain with that context in mind. The unique carbonatite lava here cools to a color unlike any other volcano on earth, turning from black to near-white within days of an eruption as it reacts with the air.

Only experienced trekking guides familiar with the mountain's loose scree and steep upper sections should be used for the ascent, and porters are typically arranged locally to help carry gear for the overnight climb.