Mount Ol’doinyo Lengai

The Mountain of God: The World's Most Unique Volcano

Often overshadowed by its colossal neighbor, Mount Meru (4,562m / 14,968ft) is Tanzania’s best-kept secret. This spectacular dormant volcano offers one of the most rewarding and scenic treks in Africa. Rising dramatically from the savannah plains of Arusha National Park, Meru provides a complete mountain experience: lush rainforests teeming with wildlife, alpine meadows, a dramatic ash cone, and a thrilling sunrise summit climb along a breathtaking crater rim.

Why Choose Mount Meru?

Mount Ol Doinyo Lengai (2,962m / 9,718 ft), which translates to “The Mountain of God” in the Maasai language, is not just a mountain—it’s a living, breathing, and uniquely active volcano. It holds the extraordinary title of being the only active volcano on Earth that erupts natrocarbonatite lava. This unique lava is black in daylight, flows like water, and cools to a whitish-yellow color, earning it the nickname “the coldest lava in the world” (though it’s still incredibly hot!).

Climbing Lengai is a raw, primal adventure. It’s a challenging overnight trek that rewards the brave with an otherworldly experience: standing on the rim of an active crater at sunrise, witnessing steaming vents and fresh lava formations, all while overlooking the vast expanse of the Great Rift Valley and Lake Natron. This is not a trek for the faint-hearted; it is a genuine mountaineering challenge for adventurous spirits.

This is the standard and only recommended itinerary to safely summit the volcano, typically starting from a camp near Lake Natron.

Day 1: Arrival at Lake Natron & Acclimatization Walk

Your journey begins with a drive from Arusha to the Lake Natron area, a spectacular journey that descends into the Rift Valley floor. The landscape transforms into a harsh, beautiful wilderness inhabited by Maasai herders and flamingos.

Afternoon: Arrive at your campsite or lodge. We strongly recommend an acclimatization walk in the afternoon. This serves two purposes: it helps your body adjust to the environment, and it brings you to the stunning Lake Natron shoreline and Engare Sero waterfalls, where you can swim in natural pools.
Evening: A crucial pre-climb briefing with your expert guide. They will explain the route, the challenges, and the absolute necessity of the “pole pole” (slowly slowly) pace. A hearty early dinner is followed by an attempt to get a few hours of sleep before your midnight start.

Day 2: Summit Ascent & Return (The Main Event)

This is a long, demanding day that requires immense mental and physical fortitude.

11:00 PM – 12:00 AM (Previous Night): Wake up, have a light snack, and finalize your packing. You will need a strong headlamp with extra batteries.
12:00 AM – 1:00 AM: Begin the climb from the base. The initial section involves a long, steady slog up loose scree and dirt. The darkness is profound, and the only lights are the stars and your headlamp.
1:00 AM – 4:00 AM: The gradient increases dramatically. The mountain is famous for its “40-degree ash slope,” where for every two steps you take forward, you slide one step back. This is the most mentally challenging part of the climb.
4:00 AM – 5:30 AM: You will reach the crater rim. CONGRATULATIONS! The hardest part is over. As dawn begins to break, you will be rewarded with a sight few ever witness: the steaming, sulfurous, and incredibly active crater of Ol Doinyo Lengai. You can see fresh lava flows, spattering vents, and the unique whitish crust of cooled carbonatite lava.
Sunrise: Watch the sun rise over Lake Natron and the Kenyan border, illuminating the entire Rift Valley in golden light. This is a moment of pure, unparalleled magic.
6:00 AM – 8:00 AM: Begin the descent. While gravity-assisted, the descent is notoriously difficult. The loose scree and steep slopes make it easy to lose your footing. Trekking poles are absolutely essential. The technique is often a controlled “scree-ski” or sliding down the ash.
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM: Arrive back at base camp, exhausted but euphoric. Enjoy a well-deserved breakfast before transferring back to your accommodation for rest, or beginning your journey back to Arusha.