📍Itinerary: Arusha -> Lake Natron
📍Accommodation: Afrika Safari Lodge – Lake Natron
[✔️] Highlights: [🙋🙋]
If you’re obsessed with flamingos 🦩, make sure to include Lake Natron in your itinerary!
When you step into this pink paradise
and suddenly witness thousands of pink flamingos at sunset,
the emotion you feel in that moment is why it’s called a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Watching a documentary is one thing,
but seeing it with your own eyes is an entirely different kind of awe.
[✔️] In the morning at the hotel, we met James, our introverted guide who would be with us for the next 9 days.
At first, we were a bit worried—
why was this guy so, so quiet?
With our group of 2.5 extroverts,
we were really afraid the next 9 days would be filled with awkward silence.
But my best friend waved her arm and declared,
“Who cares if he’s introverted or extroverted?
As long as he helps us spot animals,
he’s our hero!”
And as it turned out,
pitching to over a dozen travel agencies wasn’t in vain.
Not only did James lead us to see thousands of flamingos,
but he also helped us witness the “Great Migration” five times in the next two days.
[✔️] In the morning, we drove from Arusha to Lake Natron.
Along the way, we spotted small tornadoes several times (Figure 9)
and encountered Maasai children waving enthusiastically.
We stopped for lunch near a Maasai village (Figures 10-11),
which included warm white rice, chicken drumsticks, an unknown bean paste, fries, fruit, and wine.
[✔️] Since we had time in the afternoon, we checked into the lodge first (Figures 14-16).
Surprisingly, it was very clean. Locals handled our luggage, and tips were collected in a box at the reception.
[✔️] After a short rest, we set off for Lake Natron at sunset 🌄.
We passed Ol Doinyo Lengai Volcano (Figure 12),
which means “Mountain of God” in Maasai.
It’s the only active carbonatite volcano in the world.
[✔️] At its feet lies Lake Natron, a saline lake and the only place on our safari itinerary where we could get out and hike.
Lake Natron is known as the “Land of Death” or the “River Styx” due to its pink hue.
Its highly alkaline water can petrify almost all living creatures—
except flamingos 🦩! Truly a marvel of natural selection!
The car could only take us to the edge of the salt flats.
From there, we followed our Maasai guide on foot into the pink wonderland.
Suddenly, at sunset,
we saw thousands of pink flamingos.
The emotion of that moment is why it’s called a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Watching a documentary is one thing,
but seeing it with your own eyes is an entirely different kind of awe.
A scene like this
is unforgettable for a lifetime.
Lake Natron sounds absolutely magical! I had no idea there were such massive flocks of flamingos in one spot. I’d love to visit during sunset like the article mentioned—must be incredible to see them in person.
Absolutely, Lake Natron is one of the most breathtaking places on Earth! The way the flamingos stand out against the pink and orange hues at sunset is truly unforgettable. It’s a photographer’s dream come true. Thanks for your interest—you’ll absolutely adore it if you get the chance to visit!