Lake Natron

Lake Natron, situated in northern Tanzania on the border with Kenya, lies within the East African Rift System. Spanning 56 km in length and 24 km in width, the lake contains salt, soda, and magnesite deposits.

Notorious for its high concentration of natron, the lake boasts extreme alkaline levels, rendering it one of the deadliest bodies of water on the planet. The surrounding landscape exudes an eerie ambiance due to its adjacency to this perilous lake, yet it teems with rare flora and fauna.

Although the lake is deadly to most animals, a unique ecosystem has formed in such harsh environment, offering captivating opportunities for nature enthusiasts and bird watchers alike.

While most species cannot withstand the 120-degree lake water, cyanobacteria have thrived in Lake Natron, and turned the lake its symbolic reds and oranges. This algae growth has also provided an ideal habitat for Lesser Flamingo nests. Astonishingly, Lake Natron hosts approximately 2.5 million flamingos, serving as one of their primary breeding grounds and thus highlighting the lake’s significance in environmental preservation efforts.

Lesser flamingos are Lake Natron’s most renowned attraction with 75 percent of the world’s population of these majestic birds hailing from this locale. They gather at the lake between August and October to lay their eggs, and the eggs hatch during the wet season in November.

Although Lake Natron does not contain the same abundance of wildlife as the surrounding natural parks, witnessing life thrive in such close proximity to such a deadly body of water remains a captivating sight.