"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 Tanzania’s only officially-certified active volcano, and the world’s 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.
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’s 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.
Currently Pangani is mainly a fishing town providing beautiful beaches with coconut trees. Someone looking for a quiet vacation and an experience of African culture untouched by modern tourism Pangani would be an answer to that.
"This trip will take you to Lake Natron to view the flamingo breeding centre as well as taking you to the summit of this amazing volcano. This trip is 4 days long and is perfect to take either before or after a Kilimanjaro Climb. Oldonyo LeNgai Climb – 2 Days we will try to go to sleep early (maybe 6:30 or 7pm) because we must get up at midnight and get to the trailhead by 1:15am. It is an exhilarating climb to the summit and we should reach the caldera floor just in time to see the sun rising behind Mount Meru far, far in the distance. Further still, on the edge of our view, is Mount Kilimanjaro. Stay a while and bask in the incredible beauty of the place before starting our descent.!
A long trek across the volcanic Masailands north of Ngorongoro Crater scrambles down game-filled craters and up active volcanoes to the Rift Valley and Lake Natron where there are swathes of pink flamingos. Nights are spent at wilderness camps, open to the elements and passing wildlife and equipment is carried by backup 4wd vehicles and/or pack-animals.