What had started off as a short message from a friend, quickly turned into my newest obsession: Lake Natron in Tanzania. I just could not believe it. It had to be fake. It had to be photoshopped. A lake so bloody red, so desolate, so hostile and yet so little known. I quickly googled for possibilities to go there during my planned stay in Tanzania, but I just couldn’t figure out how to get to Lake Natron and see the red colors. I wrote to several dubious camps, a handful of professional photographers and many pilots to ask for more information or advice, but most leads were as dire as Lake Natron itself. Could I just drive there? Or should I rather take a dirt bike? Maybe walk? And could I really see the red colors from the shore? So much uncertainty and nothing seemed to work in my favor. Until the Kilimanjaro Aero Club revealed itself as the cure to my obsession with Lake Natron.

This is also why I would like to dedicate this article to the Kilimanjaro Aero Club, Jason D. and all the obsessed travelers out there and share my complete knowledge of how to travel to Lake Natron and explore its amazing red colors.

Lake Natron is a very special lake. It starts off fairly “lake-like” with blue water, then slowly changes into an orange/brownish sludge and ends up as the blood-red surface as seen on the photos. So why is Lake Natron red? As the level of salt in Lake Natron is very high, salt-loving microorganisms begin to thrive in the sodic alkaline water – and finally produce these red pigments. Interestingly enough, it is precisely these photosynthetic red pigments of the microorganisms that give the thousands of flamingos at Lake Natron their pink color.

I wanted to go to Lake Natron so badly to see these unique red patterns, not flamingos. But it would not be an easy task. Especially after a photographer had told me that seeing the red colors of Lake Natron was only truly possible from the air. So finally, I had worked out two possibilities:

  • Drive and trek: organize a trip to the top of the Rift Valley, west of Lake Natron. Halfway up the lake, there is the highest and also the closest point to the lake, Ol Doinyo Sambu (2°07’42.8″S 35°55’52.6″E). You probably would have to drive towards Loliondo, then get through the small villages, Samunge, maybe Ghabere, and come back towards Ol Doinyo Sambu. It’s a couple of extra hours in the jeep, but probably not too bad. A bit of trekking and you’d have the best panorama of Lake Natron – next to an aircraft. But it all depends on the dirt tracks, rain and the ability and knowledge of your driver (there is hardly any tarmac road). It sounded like very difficult terrain, so I looked for a motocross shop in the region and found Dustbusters in Arusha. They might be able to take you up to the described point near Lake Natron, but it will take you two nights and many hours of driving through arid regions. Since time was of essence to me, I decided to heavily splurge on my trip to Lake Natron by looking for an aircraft solution. If someone ever embarks on a journey to explore the red colors of Lake Natron from the ground, please do let me know.
  • Fly: flying over Lake Natron is your safest, best and most expensive solution. I had a hard time getting any kind of reply from pilots or aviation services in the Northern Tanzanian region, but I was lucky enough to have gotten a valuable referral by Jason D., a fellow traveler: the Kilimanjaro Aero Club (KAC). The KAC is owned by a German expat and experienced pilot who was willing to fly me over Mount Ol Doinyo Lengai and Lake Natron to take some photos and videos. The legendary Cessna T210 was the perfect airplane for such an endeavor: light, flexible and fully equipped with in-flight cameras and GoPro mounts. We took off at Moshi Airport for our 2.5 hour flight over beautiful plains, the impressive active volcano Ol Doinyo Lengai (Mountain of Gods) and finally the mind-blowing Lake Natron. Although privately chartered flights are significantly more expensive than driving there, I would still highly recommend it – especially with the Kilimanjaro Aero Club. You’ll appreciate the day trip of your lifetime much more from the sky! Plus, when flying over Lake Natron, I realized that you probably would not be able to clearly see and appreciate the red surface from top of the Rift Valley.

Did you enjoy our Lake Natron adventure so far?

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9 Comments

  • Hi, seeing the photos from Lake Natron I am absolutely obsessed to go there and see this with my own eyes – must be amazing! I want to go in September. Is this a good time to see the red color? Can you help me with some more infos about the flight to Lake Natron, how do you take photos – only through the window or is it possible without?? What would be approx. cost for a flight?

    • Hi Frank, I know exactly how you feel! I don’t think the time of year makes any difference, so September should be fine. For best photos, you will need to be able to decrease flight speed and open the windows – otherwise you’ll angle will be poor, there might be dirt and most importantly there will probably be a reflection. If you cannot open the windows, make sure you wear dark clothing – everything bright will reflect! The price for a flight is hard to say; but if you fly alone in a private chartered flight, I would expect to pay something north of 1’000 euros. Lake Natron is relatively far from other airports, such as Moshi Airport. Hope it helps and best of success!

      • Hi Valentin,
        thanks for the info. Unfortunately, the Kilimanjaro Aero Club stopped operating these flights. They also mention this on their home page. I will try and see if they can connect me to another aeroclub. Or do you have any other suggestion for an alternative?

        • Hi Frank, no, unfortunately I do not know any alternatives, but I remember that it was very difficult to find options. I wish you best of success and let me know how it goes (so I can also update this post for others).

  • Hi Valentin!

    I was wonderimg when you took the scenic flight over the lake? Im thinking of doing it now in October 😉

  • Thanks for your post in the Dead Sea of the internet that is interested in the redness of the lake. I’m going in Sept and will embark upon finding a KAC replacement. Will report back.

  • Hi guys, interesting topic here. I’m also looking into a aerial photography tour above Lake Natron. Have you already looked into flying from the Magadi airstrip in Kenia? That looks much closer than Moshi or Arusha.

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