Activity

Ol Donyo Lengaï

Download

Author

pderand
1,427 63 396
See more trails from this author 

Trail stats

Distance
3.07 mi
Elevation gain
5,381 ft
Technical difficulty
Very difficult
Elevation loss
3 ft
Max elevation
9,308 ft
TrailRank 
18
Min elevation
3,924 ft
Trail type
One Way
Coordinates
57
Uploaded
March 23, 2013
Be the first to clap
2 comments
Share

near Mtowabaga, Arusha (Tanzania)

Viewed 1148 times, downloaded 11 times

Itinerary description

Climbing this volcano can be very dangerous, specially because you have to climb it at night (it would be too hot in daytime) and also because of rocks falling down the slopes of the volcano. That's why you should go there with a guide, torch lamps and helmets and also thick clothes because of the cold in the night. ALWAYS GO WITH A GUIDE!!!
Park your car at the end of the road and ask someone you trust to make sure it is safe. Then start the path. Be aware of falling into cliffs you may not see... You will keep walking to the summit for at least 4 hours. At the summit, you will see the hornitos, the lava lake... When you will come down at 5 or 6 in the morning, you will admire the Empakai crater, the valley of the waterfalls and the Lake Natron in the dim but colorful light of the rising sun.
It is awesome, extraordinary and magnificent.If you go to Northen Tanzania, I really advise you to do this hike.

Waypoints

PictographSummit Altitude 9,331 ft

Ol Donyo Lengaï

The Ol Donyo Lengaï Volcano is one of the most special volcano in the world. Its white lavas, called natrocarbonates, are partly composed with sodium. That is why the Lake Natron, a lake at the bottom of the volcano, is very salty. Its waters are a miracle for artemians(a small hallophyll crustacean)and the Pink and Lesser Flamingoes. An other particularity to this volcano is the presence of a lava lake inside the crater. There are only 7 volcanoes in the world with a lava lake, 4 in Africa(the Erta Ale, the Lengaï, the Nyamuragira and the Nyiragongo).

PictographSummit Altitude 5,249 ft

2004 crater

This crater was formed on the South West slope of the volcano in a large volcanic eruption in 2004.

PictographSummit Altitude -3 ft

Empakai Crater

This is the crater of an ancient volcano, the Empakai. There is now a caldeira and a caldeira lake. This volcano is a home for many species such as hyenas, wildbeasts...

PictographCar park Altitude -3 ft

end of the road

Comments  (2)

  • Photo of pderand
    pderand Jul 7, 2013

    the Oldonyo Lengaï trail is a suberb trail on an awesome volcano. The scenery is magnificient.
    a very hard hiking trail

  • Photo of dani tomate
    dani tomate Jan 3, 2014

    Absolutely awesome!

You can or this trail