Mount Ol’doinyo Lengai, Tanzania: A Comprehensive Guide

“Oldoinyo Lengai” means “The Mountain of God” in the Maasai language. The summit of this strato-volcano is 2962 meters above sea level, with direct views into the caldera of Tanzania’s only officially-certified active volcano, and the world’s only carbonatite volcano. Records of eruptions have been kept since 1883, the largest of which deposited ash 120 kilometres away in Loliondo on the Kenyan border to the north west, and 100 kilometres away in Arusha Town.

It is situated in northern Tanzania, close south of Soda Ash Lake Natron in the Rift Valley, in the heart of the Maasai region and is locally considered a sacred mountain. From the top crater looking north, the hot barren salt flats of Lake Natron spread into the distance. To the south are the Highlands crater and the Ngorongoro Game Reserve. To the east, the horizons were filled with Kilimanjaro, and to the west, the forested escarpments and hills that make up the western slopes of the Rift Valley. Lengai erupts every 7 years, with a plume of smoke coming out of its crater.

One can stroll on the crater floor. The ascent of Oldoinyo Lengai is difficult due to the extreme heat during day, the scarcity of water, the steep and unstable slopes of ash and crumbling rock and the large height increase. You can typically begin your climb early in the morning and get to the summit at sunrise. Shorts and a thick jacket are appropriate for the climb, as are long trousers, as the peak before dawn can be cold. The North West access route provides a quick quick early descent from the top in the morning shade.

Since the days of their forefathers the Maasai have employed the Holly Lengai for their prayer to their GOD called NGAI. Ol’doinyo Lengai is the only active volcano in the world that erupts natrocarbonatite lava which is colder than other lavas about (510 degrees C) comparison to the temperatures of basaltic lavas (1,100 degrees C) with less silicon.

The Mountain produces frequent small eruptions and form cone like structures near its crater base.

Unlike another two tallest Mountains Lengai takes roughly six to seven hours reach the peak crater. The Mountain is also a good spot for a working safari led by the Maasai guides with guns tourist can sight wild animals as olive baboon, velvet, monitor lizard, hyenas, lion, leopard, jackal, Grant’s gazelle, impala and zebra.

Nearby are the Maasai BOMAS which provides you a chance to connect with the indigenous discover about cultures, taboos and traditional.