Ol Doinyo Lengai
2,962 m 9,718 ft
The Maasai "Mountain of God": an active volcano above Lake Natron.
Photo: Clem23, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Summit
- 2,962 m (9,718 ft)
- Climb
- One night: 5–6 hours up
- Best months
- June–October
- Type
- Active natrocarbonatite volcano
- Base
- Engare Sero, Lake Natron
About the Mountain
Ol Doinyo Lengai rises as a near-perfect cone from the floor of the Rift Valley, just south of Lake Natron. Its name means "Mountain of God" in the Maasai language, and it remains a sacred place for the Maasai who live around it.
A Volcano Like No Other
Lengai is the only active volcano in the world that erupts natrocarbonatite lava. Unlike ordinary silicate lava, it is rich in sodium and potassium carbonates, erupts at only about 500–600°C and is so fluid that it flows like water. Fresh flows are black or dark brown and turn white within days as they react with moisture in the air, which gives the summit its snow-dusted look.
Still Active
The volcano is in almost constant low-level activity, with small lava flows and spatter cones inside the summit crater. Its last major explosive eruption was in 2007–2008, which sent ash across the surrounding plains and reshaped the crater. Climbs are made with local guides who follow the volcano's activity closely.
Lake Natron
The climb starts from Engare Sero on the southern shore of Lake Natron, a shallow soda lake that is the most important breeding site for lesser flamingos in East Africa. Most visitors combine the volcano with walks to the lake shore and the Engare Sero waterfalls.
The Route
How to Climb Ol Doinyo Lengai
Each route has its own guide with a map of the trail, the camps and their altitudes, and a day-by-day plan.
Map
Ol Doinyo Lengai Route Map
Good to Know
Ol Doinyo Lengai: Frequently Asked Questions
What does Ol Doinyo Lengai mean? +
It means "Mountain of God" in Maa, the language of the Maasai, for whom the volcano is sacred.
Is Ol Doinyo Lengai still active? +
Yes. It is in almost constant low-level activity inside the summit crater, and it last erupted explosively in 2007–2008.
Why is the lava on Ol Doinyo Lengai white? +
Its natrocarbonatite lava is black or dark brown when it erupts, but it reacts with moisture and turns white within days. Lengai is the only volcano on Earth that erupts this kind of lava.
Keep Exploring
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