Super User 22 July 2023

Travel Guide To Lake Natron Safari Wildlife In Tanzania

Discover the most northerly landmark in the Tanzanian Rift Valley, the low-lying, bright red Lake Natron, one of Africa’s deadliest lakes, and very rich in alkaline. Lake Natron is a salt or alkaline lake located in the north Ngorongoro District of the Arusha Region in Tanzania in the Gregory Rift, which is the eastern branch of the East African Rift. The lake is within the Lake Natron Basin, a Ramsar Site wetland of international importance.

The lake is fed principally by the Southern Ewaso Ng'iro River, which rises in central Kenya, and by mineral-rich hot springs. It is quite shallow, less than 3 meters (9.8 ft.) deep. The surrounding area receives irregular seasonal rainfall, mainly between December and May per year. Temperatures at the lake are frequently above 40 °C (104 °F).

Apart from sometimes turning red, another reason that Lake Natron is so unusual is that it's incredibly caustic (alkaline) from the nearby volcano. This makes it poisonous to most animals. Animal and bird corpses can be found in and around the lake. The water of Lake Natron is very high in cyanobacteria. This is an algae that releases a chemical which in turn damages the cells, nervous system, and livers of most of the organisms that have consumed it. Many of the birds and animals that drink from Lake Natron wind up dead as a result.

This bright red lake is the world's most caustic body of water, but not to everything. An endemic species of fish, the alkaline tilapia, lives along the edges of the hot spring inlets, algae, invertebrates, birds, and the lake actually derive their color from salt-loving microorganisms that thrive in its alkaline waters. The most mysterious part of Lake Natron is its eerie ability to turn animal corpses to stone. The extreme sodium bicarbonate content preserves animals perfectly through calcification, leaving behind statue-like figures that wash up on the shore.

The lake is the only regular breeding area in East Africa for the 2.5 million lesser flamingoes, whose status of "near threatened" results from their dependence on this one location. When salinity increases, so do cyanobacteria, and the lake can also support more nests. These flamingoes, the single large flock in East Africa, gather along nearby saline lakes to feed on Spirulina (blue-green algae with red pigments).

Lake Natron is a safe breeding location because its caustic environment is a barrier against predators trying to reach their nests on seasonally forming evaporated islands. Greater flamingoes also breed on the mud flats.

There are several campgrounds near the lake, which is also the base for climbing Ol Doinyo Lengai. Lake Natron has immense tourist attraction potentials that are important for ecotourism development. Visitors from various places can refresh and enjoy when they visit these areas, and climb the volcano.

Lake Natron is also one of the best lakes for swimming. One may not get hurt swimming in Lake Natron maybe by turning to stones inside the water. People are encouraged to visit Lake Natron and if you are looking for a slight and less thrilling day, you just feel free to dip your toes and swim around the largest fully submerged cave at the lake. Water from Tanzania’s Lake Natron is extremely deadly as they are most beautiful for swimming and enjoying, visitors are advised to be very careful so that they may not drink the water from the lake.

However, there are some threats to the preservation of the lake. The area that is around the salty lake is almost not inhabited and some seasonal herding and cultivation activities are taking place around the lakeshores that may become a threat to the lake, leading to the decrease of salinity balance.

Arrange with Ultimate Wild Safaris for a safari of one of Africa’s deadliest lakes, Natron in Tanzania.

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