As the lake increases in salinity, so does the population of bacteria. The lake is full of millions of Cyanobacteria - a salt loving micro organism which create their own food through photosynthesis. That said, the lake itself is home to a fascinating eco-system which thrives in this harsh environment. In stead, visit this area for its remoteness, scenery and for an interesting route into the back of Loliondo.
Wildlife of Lake NatronThe area around Lake Natron is home to some wildlife, you might see the occasional giraffe or zebra – but this is not the main reason to come here. It's about a five-hour drive from Lake Natron to reach the safari camps of the Serengeti's Loliondo area. To finally reach Lake Natron, you drive around this imposing volcano – perhaps keeping your eyes on its smoking crown. These are soon dwarfed by the sight of Kerimasi Crater and, finally, the active Oldoinyo Lengai – whose name means “mountain of god" in the Maasai language. To the north of this track stands a handful of great mounds – the remains of extinct volcanoes. Only the occasional Maasai homestead now dots the landscape. Drive deeper, and green vegetation gives way to a sparse, dusty landscape. You will soon focus on the scenery: looking around, the views are spectacular. It is hot but with the Rift Valley rising up on your left hand side, the landscape is increasingly dramatic. The drive to Lake Natron takes around three hours from Mto wa Mbu (beside Lake Manyara). It is also some of the most dramatic scenery we have seen in Tanzania and the journey here is worth it for the views alone. But for those who do choose to visit Natron, they are rewarded with an area that is far off the beaten track and sees relatively little tourism. This area is hot and often very dry and dusty – so certainly for the more intrepid traveller. Nestled between rolling volcanic hills and deep craters, Lake Natron sits at the lowest point of the rift valley – 600m above sea level – and is probably the world's most caustic body of water. This spectacular area sits just north east of the Ngorongoro Crater and forms part of Africa's immense Great Rift Valley.
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