Lake Natron
The beautiful Lake Natron, known for the famous mountain of God, Ol Doinyo Lengai, is an authentic Maasai village and the beautiful lake itself! A very beautiful landscape that differs from all other parks with a lot of things to do! Let us get out of the car and enjoy the activities around Lake Natron!
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Lake Natron is the perfect breeding place for Flamingos.
Flamingos find a safe breeding ground at Lake Natron since most other animals find its caustic environment and high temperature of the lake (up to 60°C) as well as its high salinity inhospitable. It, therefore, provides a good barrier against predators trying to reach nests on seasonal evaporation islands. Every year, more than two million flamingos come here to lay their eggs and chicks hatch between September and April. Cyanobacteria are increasing with the salinity of the water, and the lake can carry more nests. Larger flamingos also breed in the Wadden Sea.
Other animals in Lake Natron
Some fish species (such as tilapia) can survive in the slightly less salty water near the shore. Lake Natron is also home to some endemic algae, invertebrates, and birds. Tens of thousands of other birds can be spotted near the lake, making Lake Natron a prime destination for bird lovers in Africa.
Nearby National Parks
Lake Natron is also well connected to other national parks, such as Lake Manyara, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area in the south and the Northern Serengeti National Park in the west. Usually, Lake Natron will be visited after Lake Manyara National Park.
Wildlife
It is estimated that at the height of the dry season in October the density of large mammals, elephants, buffaloes, elands, zebra, wildebeest, giraffe, ostrich to mention a few are second only to Ngorongoro crater worldwide. This spectacular gathers around the scattered pools of permanent water along the Tarangire River bed, and also around the Silale swamp. Lion and Leopard are frequently seen here as well.
The huge baobab trees are characteristic of these savannahs and have been described by naturalists as a complete ecosystem by themselves, the nooks and crannies provide places for beehives or are occupied by small mammals like a genet, civet, and mongoose while their enormous flowers are pollinated by fruit bats. Many baobabs are hollow and have provided shelter for wandering bands of hunter-gathers in the past.
 Tarangire is one of the finest places in Tanzania to watch elephants and spending unhurried time in the presence of these intelligent giants, often from a vantage point at a waterhole or spring is one of the greatest pleasures of a wildlife safari, Tarangire is also one of the few places in Tanzania to see Oryx, and more even gerenuk and both lesser and greater kudu, and even occasionally wild dogs. It’s also a birders paradise with more residence breeding species than anywhere else in Tanzania
When to go
These are a year all around, with the pick game viewing season coming from July to November when all is dry and the River calls all the seasonal migratory big mammals, and clusters around shrinking lagoons and water holes.
Highlights.
Getting there
- There is an airstrip at Kuro in the centre of the park with daily scheduled flights from Arusha and other safari destinations.
- The journey from Arusha usually takes around two hours to the main gate and this is where the safari starts.
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Activities
- Game viewing
- Walking safari
- Night game safari. This is the best way to explore the African bush for its sound, the nocturnal animals and the lovely sky for the stars. Balloon Safari
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Safari Ideas
Tarangire fits well to the northern circuit safari itineraries, but if you have time at least give two days for this wonderful park and accommodation picked should be inside the park to offer maximum game viewing.
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