Mountain Trekking 
Ol Doinyo Lengai
2,962 m 9,718 ft
The Maasai 'Mountain of God', and the only volcano on Earth that erupts carbonatite lava.
Summit
North crater rim, 2,962 m
Routes
1, 1–2 days
Best months
June to October, when it is driest and coolest
Type
Active stratovolcano
Nearest airport
Lake Natron airstrip, or Kilimanjaro International (JRO)
About the mountain
Ol Doinyo Lengai climb: what to know
Ol Doinyo Lengai climb: An active volcano in the Rift Valley and the only one on Earth that erupts natrocarbonatite lava.
Ol Doinyo Lengai, the "Mountain of God" in Maa, rises steeply from the floor of the Rift Valley just south of Lake Natron. It is sacred to the Maasai, and it is one of the most unusual volcanoes in the world: the only active volcano that erupts natrocarbonatite, a lava so low in silica that it flows like water and cools from black to white within days.
A night climb The slopes are steep, loose ash with no shade, so the climb starts around midnight to avoid the heat. It takes five to six hours to reach the crater rim at sunrise, with the Rift Valley, Lake Natron and, on clear days, Kilimanjaro spread out below, and three to four hours to come down.
An active volcano Lengai erupted explosively in 2007 and 2008, and the crater still steams. Your guide will judge on the day how close to the crater it is safe to go.
Lengai is usually combined with a stay at Lake Natron, with its flamingos, waterfalls and Maasai villages, and fits easily before or after a northern safari.
Choose your route
1 route up Ol Doinyo Lengai
Each route has its own guide with a map of the trail, the camps and their altitudes, and a day-by-day plan.
Map
Map of the Ol Doinyo Lengai routes
Press a camp on the map or in the list below to see its altitude.
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Trail lines and camps: © OpenStreetMap contributors. Altitudes from park signposts where available.
Our climbs
Climb Ol Doinyo Lengai with us
Guided climbs on fixed itineraries, each one tailored to your dates and pace.
Mountain Trekking FAQs
Questions about Ol Doinyo Lengai
How difficult is the Ol Doinyo Lengai climb?
It is short but very steep, on loose ash and rock, and done at night. Good fitness and sturdy boots are essential, and trekking poles help a lot on the descent.
Why is it climbed at night?
The slopes have no shade and the Rift Valley floor is extremely hot by day. Starting around midnight means you climb in the cool and reach the rim for sunrise.
Is it safe to climb an active volcano?
Lengai is monitored and climbed regularly. Our guides know the mountain well and decide on the day how far it is safe to go; the crater floor itself is never entered.
Plan with us
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Tell us your dates, your fitness and what you want to see. We will recommend the mountain and route that give you the best chance of a great climb.
