Trekking Ol-Doinyo Lengai, "Mountain of God"
TREK OVERVIEW
Experience an unforgettable 3-day journey to one of Africa’s most remote and stunning landscapes, nestled at the base of Ol Doinyo Lengai, the “Mountain of God.” Starting in Arusha, you will travel to Lake Natron, a wild and rugged area of extraordinary beauty, offering dramatic scenery and cultural significance. Explore the Engero Sero Waterfalls on a guided walk with a local Maasai Guide, where you’ll discover a hidden oasis and enjoy a refreshing swim amidst towering rock walls. Witness the surreal beauty of Lake Natron’s soda flats and the towering presence of the active volcano before preparing for an exhilarating nighttime ascent of Ol Doinyo Lengai. Reaching the summit at sunrise, you’ll be rewarded with panoramic views of the Great Rift Valley, Lake Natron, Mount Kilimanjaro, and the Ngorongoro Highlands. This adventure is a perfect blend of thrilling exploration, cultural immersion, and breathtaking natural beauty, ending with a return to Arusha.
Price Per Person
|
1 to 2 People |
3 to 4 People |
Group of 5+ |
|
$900 |
$850 |
$800 |
Trekking Highlights
- Active Volcano Summit
- Lake Natron Flamingos
- Ngare Sero Waterfalls
- Maasai Cultural Tour
- Scenic Drive
Summary Route Description
- DIFFICULTY – Medium
- SCENERY – Good
- TRAFFIC – Low
Route Map
Best Time to hike Oldoinyo Lengai
The best time to hike Oldoinyo Lengai is during the dry seasons, specifically from June to October or December to February. These periods offer stable weather, clearer skies for panoramic views, and safer, less slippery trails, allowing for a better, cooler, and less treacherous experience compared to the rainy season.
DAY TO DAY ITINERARY
- DAY 1:
- ARUSHA - Lake Natron
Depart Arusha in the morning and travel to Lake Natron. Wild and remote, it is situated at the base of Africa’s only active volcano, Oldoinyo Lengai, known as the “Mountain of God” to the local Maasai people. The area surrounding Lake Natron contains some of the harshest and most amazing scenery in Africa and is utterly breathtaking.
Together with your Guide, you will be accompanied by a local Maasai Guide and walk up to the Engero Sero Waterfalls. Winding up through the shady gorge, you will reach a beautiful natural swimming pool surrounded by steep rock walls, showered by cascading spring water, where you will have the opportunity to swim.
Accommodation:
- Giraffe Eco Camp.
Meal Plan:
- Dinner & BreakFast
- DAY 2:
- Lake Natron - Ol Doinyo Lengai
After breakfast, you will walk out across the baked mud to the shores of the great Soda Lake. From here, you can look back at the astonishing view of Oldoinyo Lengai standing tall amongst the rolling hills and flat plains. Its ash-grey color will remind you that this is still an active volcano.
You will return to camp in time for lunch and a leisurely afternoon before enjoying an early dinner and retiring to your tent for some rest.
At approximately 11 pm, you will be woken up with tea or coffee and a light snack before meeting your Mountain Guide and beginning your trek into the night.
Accommodation:
- Giraffe Eco Camp
Meal Plan:
- Breakfast, Picnic Lunch, and Dinner.
- DAY 3:
- Ol Doinyo Lengai - Arusha
Your climb will continue into the early hours of the morning before reaching the summit in time to witness the sun rise as it illuminates the Great Rift Valley below.
The views are breathtaking. To the north, you will see the salt flats of Lake Natron and, in the distance, the Kenyan border. To the east, you will see Mount Kilimanjaro and the Great Rift Valley, and to the south stretches the Ngorongoro Highlands and Ngorongoro Crater.
Together with your Guide, you will explore the peak and enjoy a picnic breakfast before beginning your climb down the mountain, where you will be welcomed back with lunch before returning to Arusha, where your safari ends upon arrival.
COST BREAKDOWN
Trekking Cost Covers
- All entrance fees and Government Taxes
- Airport Transfers (upon Arrival and Departure)
- Clean, purified drinking water
- Fair wages for the mountain crew.
- All meals while on the Mountain
- Rescue Fees and all taxes.
- Salaries for Porters, Cook, and Guides
- Oxygen Tanks, Pulse Oximeter, and First Aid Kit
- Private cook speaking fluent English
- Private guide speaking fluent English
- Transfers to and from the Accommodation facility.
Does not Cover
- Travel insurance
- International flights (can be booked for you on request)
- Tips for guides, porters, and cooks
- Accommodation on day of arrival and departure
- Visas & vaccinations
- Personal expenses eg. Laundry, beverages, etc.
- Bed, Sleeping Bag, and walking Poles.
- Private Toilet and hot shower tent.
INQUIRIES & FAQ's
Inquiry Space
Your Trekking & Hiking Questions Answered
The best time to hike Oldoinyo Lengai is during the dry seasons, specifically from June to October or December to February. These periods offer stable weather, clearer skies for panoramic views, and safer, less slippery trails, allowing for a better, cooler, and less treacherous experience compared to the rainy season.
Yes, we can arrange a safari for you after you complete the Mount Meru hike. Tanzania offers incredible safari destinations, such as the Serengeti, the Ngorongoro Crater, and Tarangire National Park, which you can easily add to your adventure. Our team will help you customize an itinerary to suit your preferences, allowing you to experience the best of Tanzanian wildlife after your trek. Simply let us know your interests, and we will arrange an unforgettable safari to complete your Hiking experience.
Prepare with physical training, mental readiness, and gear planning. Cardio, strength exercises, and long hikes with a weighted backpack are recommended. Layered clothing, waterproof gear, trekking poles, and sturdy boots are essential. Stay hydrated, eat well, and learn to recognize high-altitude symptoms.
Yes, group treks are available. Groups share porters, enjoy guided support, and create a social trekking experience. Group sizes vary; early booking is recommended.
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Offering unlimited game drives with no mileage restrictions and exclusive access to the most wildlife-abundant areas.
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VerifiedPosted on Peter BOverall, an incredible experience with a professional and friendly guide and team. A fantastic experience, made possible and truly enjoyable thanks to our excellent lead guide, Innocent, our guide Emanuel, and our dedicated team of porters. The food and accommodation were excellent, our privacy was respected, and we felt secure knowing that Innocent—who had lost count of his ascents after 200—prepared us well for each day ahead and for summit night.VerifiedPosted on matildabondBest experience of my life! I don't know where to begin! My dad and I have just arrived back home and I want to start by saying that I already miss being on the mountain with our incredible team. From beginning to end, this trip has been the most incredible experience! We did the 8 day Lemosho route just the two of us with our amazing team. To say that I was nervous about this trip is an understatement as neither of us had any prior experience. The minute we met our lead guide, Innocent, all the nerves dropped. Innocent, as well as our team, all deserve a medal for everything they did for us during our time on the mountain! One of the things I valued the most with our team is how incredibly safe they made us feel. Innocent and Emanuel (assistant guide) both had so much experience and it felt like anything could have been thrown at us and I would've been calm in their presence. We were so well looked after and supported and for the last two days, when I wasn't feeling 100%, Innocent carried my bag for me (he did this all the way up to the summit!). Kindest man ever! We were so taken care of by everyone in the team! We got served delicious meals throughout the day (including what became our favourite snack - popcorn), hot water for tea and hot water for washing. Every night Innocent came to do our medical form and brief us on the next day. Side note: We think Innocent might be the weather-god. EVERY single day we got to the camp and inside our tents about 2 minute before the rain started. Huge thank you to Innocent, Emanuel, Ronaldi, Visent, Barak, Lutin, Ernest, Hamza, Jackson and Elisha! You made us feel like we were apart of a beautiful family and we would not have been able to make it without you! We will miss you all very, very much. Some tips: - Get a private toilet. This made a huge difference and was worth every penny. - Bring electrolytes to ensure you don't get dehydrated - Bring snacks that you know you'll eat even when your appetite is low - Bring an extra pair of thermals so you have a dry pair for summit night - Bring Dextro for summit night - Bring a small hot water bottle (this saved me on the colder nights) - Headphones for summit night (Me and dad had one headphone each. This was a treat) MatildaVerifiedPosted on hel eAmazing experience for machame with Ladi and team I did the 6 days machame route with Ladi and the team from Almighty and it was an amazing experience. The team was very sweet and caring and Ladi took great care of me and managed the hiking schedule perfectly. I felt safe at all times, food was really tasty snd everyone was really caring.VerifiedPosted on james sGreat team Great experience. The team were great. They certainly helped me get to the top. The whole team work tirelessly to make sure your trip goes well. Thanks!VerifiedPosted on LaurenAlmighty Kilimanjaro Incredible! From start to finish, we were taken care of. Ombenni and his team were fantastic. The porters put the climbers to shame, running up and down the mountain and the chef cooked us a high class meal every day. I would recommend Almighty Kilimanjaro as the company to take you up Kilimanjaro everyday of the week. Thank you team for all you did in helping us achieve our dream!VerifiedPosted on DredreFIRST MOUNTAIN CLIMBING EXPERIENCE DONE RIGHT! A truly wonderful experience from start to end, coming from Singapore, a really busy city with lots of buildings and no mountains here. My first experience ever climbing a mountain with my wife (also her first time). The Head Guide John from Almighty was really professional and experienced, from his briefings, safety briefings, expert guidance and understanding symptoms of Altitude sickness etc made us feel safe in his hands. Also leading a superb team of chef and porters who are really hard working and strong, truly admire their resilience and also “happy go lucky” attitudes despite their tough jobs. Really didn’t think we could make it to the summit at Stella Point as I was suffering from fever, nausea, diarrhea etc and my wife was experiencing some difficulty breathing. We weren’t too used to the altitude, but our guide managed to push us through while still being very cautious about our symptoms and constantly checking in on us during Summit Night. After many long hours, we finally made it to Stella Point and that too us was really amazing as we just stood there and enjoyed the views surrounding us, thinking that we weren’t gonna make it tbh. Sunrise was beautiful and we were in awe of the views surrounding us. Highly recommend Almighty as they are affordable and truly professional for a locally owned Tanzanian Operator.VerifiedPosted on Meirion B JKilimanjaro Kilimanjaro. I went on an epic adventure with Almighty Kilimanjaro The guide John and the whole team looked after me like family, they cater and support you in every step of the way up and down and made it exceptionally Amazing ???????? Thanks to the whole team MeirionVerifiedPosted on TodevMagical Amazing experience with a wonderful team, always here for help and support ! Thanks a lot to Amiss, John, Devi, Panfi, Olaïs, Robinson and David ????????VerifiedPosted on Samara LA truly life changing experience with Muntari and his team My friend and I undertook the 6 day Marangu Route with our lead guide Muntari and his incredible team. From the very start, everything was handled with professionalism and care. The support and encouragement that was provided to us throughout the hike was outstanding and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Muntari and his team to anyone interested. Hiking Mount Kilimanjaro is not for the faint hearted, but it was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. The Marangu route accommodation is in huts and the fantastic Amani was always so caring and ensured that we had a warm drink when walking up in the morning and that we ate enough to fuel our hikes. The food also exceeded our expectations, our chef Shabani did a wonderful job providing us with nutritious and delicious meals. We never went hungry. We were always briefed daily and had our oxygen concentrations and pulse assessed to ensure that we were fit and well to continue our hike to the summit. Muntari and his team provided an abundance of knowledge when it came to experiencing symptoms of altitude sickness and were always there to reassure and provide us with the positive mindset that is necessary to conquer the summit. The chorus of singing and dancing as we walked in the dark on summit night really lifted our spirits. A special shout out to the porters! They are the magic behind the scenes who allowed us to complete this challenge by carrying our extra clothes and items from camp to camp. Vincent our assistant guide and Mparee one of our porters were the reason I managed to get to the summit. I couldn’t have done it without them. A last thanks to Almighty Kilimanjaro, Muntari and his team for a truly life changing experience.VerifiedPosted on nikki27527Once in a lifetime experience with a great team! We had the best time celebrating my 30th birthday with a hike up Kilimanjaro with Muntas (Muntari) and his team. The hike was hard but the team encouraged and supported us along the way, always making sure we were taken care of and doing ok. They also were genuinely lovely people who we made memories with as a small group of 2 with a fantastic crew of 6. Special mentions to Amani who was one of our wonderful porters who brought a smile to our face every single day with his warm and caring service waking us with a hot drink. He was so kind, sincerely cared about how we were doing and joked with us ensuring we always ate enough to fuel all the exercise. He also supported me the entire way down the summit ensuring I was always safe. Muntas was also a great leader who really supported us in the hike and had great emotional intelligence to check in at the right times. They went out of their way to ensure we reached the peaks and even celebrated with a birthday cake at the end of the trip. Vincent, Shabani, Mparee and the rest of the team! We couldn’t have done it without you. Thank you. You all contributed to us having a great time and returning back after 6 days of hard work. We were sad to leave them all and would highly recommend them for any hikers in future. We didn’t feel like just any other customers but like family!