![]() The earliest human presence around the lake can be traced to the Paleolithic era. This cohabitation between Man and nature which has been perpetuated for centuries gives a true cultural landscape dimension to this vast lake. They shelter water plants such as papyrus and spirulina but also numerous animal species such as the migratory birds, which use these plains as resting areas.Ī peculiar feature of the Lake Chad is the profusion of hundreds of islands and small islands, of which numerous are inhabited by several communities such as the Kotoko, Mouloui, Barma, Boulalan, Babalia, Kanembou, Haoussa, who live from its resources and rely on the resilience of the lake to perpetuate their ways of life. Receding waters in dry season expose wide floodplains on the banks of the lake. Around the lake, sand deserts and water meet in a complex network of meanders which are sometimes cultivated. This ecosystem contains a great variety of wet zones which include open water, polders, temporary or permanent ponds, some of them being rich in natron. It is an endorheic lake fed mainly by the Logone Chari and Komadougou watercourses. The current area is around 17,000 km2 (measured during its high point at the end of the rainy season). Its geology has undergone variations which are the object of numerous controversies. Paleography informs us that the Lake Chad has been constantly evolving with respect to the environmental conditions. We recommend this itinerary for travellers who seek a different experience to the classic safari.The Lake Chad is a vast area of fresh water located in the middle of sand dunes which covers territories in 4 countries: Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger and Chad. Accommodation at Natron is limited and pretty basic. This isn’t a difficult trek but part of the route requires walking through water (which rarely reaches the knee height) so requires swimwear and non-slip footwear. The hike to the edge of the lake offers a magnificent sight the hike along the Engare Sero creek, which flows through a narrow rocky gorge, leads to a beautiful waterfall where it is possible to swim. The trails to reach Lake Natron (both from the Serengeti, taking about five to six hours, and from Manyara, taking about three to four hours) are extremely scenic and you will be able to meet the Maasai communities who live off most tourist circuits. At that time we stopped offering trekking on Oldonyo Leng’ai. The last eruption was in December 2007 – January 2008 (which we witnessed in person as we were right there!) and it made the climb to the volcano summit even tougher since the lava completely erased the temporary trail that could sometimes be followed, and the small flat areas for stopping to catch your breath have gone completely. After emission, when it comes into contact with water, the colour of natron-carbonatite lava changes rapidly to white, so that the top of the volcano seems to be cloaked in snow. When the lava is flowing it resembles a kind of very fluid, dark “river” that some have likened to a stream of mud. The area is extremely arid and dominated by the perfect cone of Oldoinyo Leng’ai, the volcano sacred to the Maasai people, who consider it the abode of the divinity Leng’ai.Īt an altitude of nearly three thousand metres above sea level, Oldoinyo Leng’ai is the only volcano in the world that emits natron-carbonatite lava, rich in sodium carbonate, with very low viscosity and temperatures since it rises at 500–590 ☌. Natron is the usual nesting area for millions of lesser pink flamingos who are fond of the cyanobacteria present in high concentration in the lake water, especially during the dry season (June to October), so they flock to its shores. It is a highly alkaline lake that occupies a depression created by the Rift Valley, a lava desert area of rugged beauty in the extreme north of Tanzania. Lake Natron is fifty kilometres in length and about twenty-five in width. Safari Crew Tanzania wins Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Award.Why is Tanzania the best Safari Destination?.Lake Natron and Oldonyo Len’gai volcano. ![]()
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