Mt. Ol Doinyo Lengai
The sacred Maasai Mountain of God. A unique active volcano in the Lake Natron area.
3,188m / 10,459 ft.
Ol Doinyo Lengai is an active volcano located near Lake Natron with special importance to the local Maasai.
This mountain is well off the beaten path and is a true adventurer’s goal. It is a real diamond in the rough. You won’t see the crowds of Kilimanjaro, or even Meru here. In fact you could quite possibly be the only ones on the mountain.
The Beta.
While it only takes a day to climb, it does take a full day to get there on rough roads and a full day to get back. Venturing out here will get you away from the tourist crowds and experience the real rural Tanzania. This is best done as a component of a safari in the Serengeti.
The climb itself is a challenge because of the steepness and loose volcanic rock. The ascent is done completely in the dark to facilitate a sunrise summit where, if the dust and haze are low, you can see an incredible view of Kilimanjaro and Meru in front of the rising sun.
Smoke escapes from cracks as you near the crater rim, though the crater is so steep on the inside you aren’t able to see the bottom. This is a real trekker’s adventure and one not to be passed up.
Walk the rim of a real volcano. The same one you drew a picture of as a kid!
Itinerary and Pricing
Mt. Ol Doinyo Lengai is best done in conjunction with a safari that includes the Serengeti. However, it can be done as a stand alone option. The schedule is two days, which includes 1 day of travel to the camp site, then a second day of climbing. After your drive in, you can hike to the waterfall and visit Lake Natron. These are also possible after your climb, though you may want to sneak in an afternoon nap. On the climbing day you will depart your camp and link up with your Maasai Guide. You’ll begin the trek around midnight and it will usually take about 6 hours to reach the crater rim, just in time for the sunrise. If you are lucky and the air is clear, you might get to see the sunrise behind Mt. Kilimanjaro and Mt. Meru, though this may be hidden by haze and dust in the peak of dry season. After you will descend and head back to camp. From there you will travel to your next camp site in the Serengeti, or head back to Moshi. We accept USD or BTC.
2 Day Trip:
Single: $2,022 USD
Group of 2: $1,152 USD per person
Group of 3 to 6: $861 USD per person
Group of 7: $654 USD per person
Group of 8: $607 USD per person