Oldoinyo Lengai is an active volcano Mountain with the possibility of climbing to the very top of the crater. The name Oldoinyo Lengai is the Maasai language for “Mountain of God”.The Mountain is located along the East African Rift Valley wall escarpment north-east of the NGORONGORO highlands. The mountain of God is the most unique active volcano in the world mainly because it erupts Natrocarbonatite lava; (a much cooler liquid and non sticky black/grayish crude oil like lava) with temperatures of over 500°C, unlike the other volcanoes which produces basaltic lava with temperatures rising above 1,100°C.The less violent active volcano has been witnessed by many volcano enthusiasts ever since the early seventy’s and has become a great attraction of late. While the lava flow appears like a white water flowing streams and brownish mud they form into solidified lava crystals that reflect sharp sparks when hit by rays.
The low gas content lava glows to extreme red-orange pool during the dark within the crater rim and around the solidified peaks of volcanic lava cones creating a spectacular display.This hike generally takes 3-5 hours to ascend and 2-3 hours to descend. The ideal time to begin this hike is around 2 a.m. so that you may reach the peak at dawn to enjoy both the sunrise and cloudless viewing of the crater.Ol Doinyo Lengai hikes can easily be combined with a safari to the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater. If one prefers a longer trekking experience they can begin in the Ngorongoro Highlands, before summiting Ol Doinyo Lengai.
