What You Need to Know: The 2-day Lake Natron trip costs US$650 per person for two travelers (US$325 per person per day). It includes pickup and drop-off in Arusha, a private vehicle and guide, a night near Engaresero with meals, the Lake Natron area fees and local guides for the flamingo and waterfall walks. The drive is long and rough, and we don't recommend it in April and May.
Who Should Visit Lake Natron?
Lake Natron suits travelers who have done the classic parks, or are adding a day or two, and want somewhere completely different: volcanic landscapes, Maasai country and flamingos, not big game. It is hot all year and the road is long, so it suits people who enjoy the journey as much as the destination.
| This safari suits you if… | Consider another trip if… |
|---|---|
| You want flamingos and volcanic scenery | You want big game: a 3-day Tarangire, Manyara and crater safari |
| You'd like a walk and a swim in a waterfall | You want to climb the volcano: our Ol Doinyo Lengai climb |
| You've done the main parks or have spare days | You want Natron with the parks: the 8-day safari with Lake Natron and Lake Eyasi |
2-Day Lake Natron Itinerary
A drive north through Maasai country, the flamingo shore at sunset and the waterfall in the morning:
-
Day 1: Arusha to Lake Natron
We pick you up in Arusha in the morning and drive through Mto wa Mbu and up the Rift Valley, the tarmac giving way to dusty tracks past Maasai bomas and the cone of Ol Doinyo Lengai. After lunch at your lodge, a local guide walks you to the lake shore in the late afternoon, when the flamingos feed in the shallows and the light turns pink.
FlamingosLake NatronLunch, dinner -
Day 2: The Ngare Sero waterfall, then Arusha
An early walk up the Ngare Sero river, wading between the walls of a narrow gorge to a waterfall where you can swim, before the heat of the day. Back for lunch, then the drive to Arusha, arriving in the evening.
Waterfall walkNgare Sero, ArushaBreakfast, lunch
What Makes Lake Natron Special?
Natron is a shallow soda lake so salty and hot that few animals live in it, which is exactly why lesser flamingos breed here, safe from predators. Their numbers rise and fall with the season and water levels. Around the lake, footprints of early humans preserved in volcanic mud near Engaresero can be visited, and Ol Doinyo Lengai, the Maasai's mountain of God, is the only volcano on earth that erupts natrocarbonatite lava.
Can You Climb Ol Doinyo Lengai on This Trip?
Not on two days. The climb starts around midnight and needs a rest night first, so it adds at least one night. Our Ol Doinyo Lengai climb page explains how it works; the final decision to climb is made by local guides on the day, for safety.
How Much Does the 2-Day Lake Natron Trip Cost?
US$650 per person for two travelers, US$325 per person per day. We quote the price for other group sizes.
What the 2-Day Lake Natron Safari Includes
Your price includes:
- Pickup and drop-off at your Arusha hotel
- A night at a lodge or tented camp near Engaresero, named in your quotation, with lunch, dinner and breakfast
- The Lake Natron area fees and local guides for the flamingo and waterfall walks
- Private 4x4 Land Cruiser with a pop-up roof, a window seat for every guest (at most 6), charging points and a fridge for drinks, with your own driver-guide
- Drinking water in the vehicle
Not included in the 2-Day Lake Natron Safari price
Not included:
- International flights and visas (US$100 for US citizens)
- Tanzania's mandatory inbound travel insurance, US$44 per adult from October 1, 2026 (we can help you buy it)
- Travel insurance, including medical evacuation
- Tips for your guide and lodge staff
- Drinks, except where a lodge includes them, and personal items
- The Ol Doinyo Lengai climb, quoted separately
- A Maasai village visit, if you'd like one
When to Go to Lake Natron
June to October and December to March are the best months. The road becomes very hard going in the long rains of April and May, so we don't run the trip then. It is hot all year, often over 95 °F (35 °C) by midday, so walks are early or late.
How to Book the 2-Day Lake Natron Safari
Send your dates and the number of travelers through the form, on WhatsApp +255 678 992 599 or by email to jaynevytours@gmail.com. Our team sends a written quotation with each night's lodge named. Pay a 30% deposit to confirm, by Pesapal or a US-dollar bank transfer, and the rest when you arrive; our booking terms cover cancellations.
Common Questions About the Lake Natron Trip
Short answers to the questions our guests ask us most often:
How far is Lake Natron from Arusha?
About 4 to 5 hours by road, the last part on rough, dusty tracks.
How much is a 2-day Lake Natron trip?
US$650 per person for two travelers, including the vehicle and guide, a night with meals, the area fees and the guided walks.
When can you see flamingos at Lake Natron?
Flamingos are often on the lake through much of the year, but numbers vary with the season and water levels; your guide finds the best spot.
Can you swim at Lake Natron?
Not in the lake, which is very alkaline, but you can swim under the Ngare Sero waterfall.
Can Lake Natron be combined with a safari?
Yes. Add it before the parks, or book the 8-day safari with Lake Natron and Lake Eyasi.
Should You Book the 2-Day Lake Natron Trip?
Book it if you want flamingos, a waterfall swim and the most dramatic volcanic scenery in Tanzania in two days from Arusha, for US$650 per person. For culture instead, see the 2-day Lake Eyasi trip; for game, our Tanzania safaris.