Best Travel Guide To Mount Ol Doinyo Climbing and Hiking Adventures in Tanzania

Experience a mystical and adventurous moonlight hike of Mount Ol Doinyo Lengai, an active volcano in northern Tanzania, with a large crater at the summit. The highest point of the crater rim is 3,188 m (10,459 ft.) above sea level. The Climbers start at an elevation of roughly 1,100 meters (3,600 ft.). This means you climb two vertical kilometers to reach the top

Ol Doinyo Lengai means “Mountain of God” in the Maasai language.

Ol Doinyo Lengai sits just next to the escarpment of the Great Rift Valley. So it's part of the intersection between the highlands and the great plain below. It's also only a stone's throw from Lake Natron and the Ngare Sero waterfall.

Ol Doinyo Lengai also has phases of explosive activity during which the composition of the lava may contain much more silicate material, reducing its viscosity. However, the initial phases of an explosive eruption may include strong lava fountains. The two most recent explosive eruptions occurred during 1966-1967 and 2007-2008.

Ol Doinyo Lengai offers fit and adventurous souls, a very challenging nighttime hike. The reward: a sunrise view of the volcano crater from its rim as well as a spectacular view of the surrounding landscape including beautiful scenic views of Lake Natron and the Ngare Sero waterfall. Ol Doinyo Lengai is actually the only active carbonatite volcano on Earth

Climbing Mount Ol Doinyo Lengai under the moonlight in the remote savannah wilderness of northern Tanzania is a truly unforgettable experience. It's also a very challenging, steep climb that will reward you not only with epic views but also an immense sense of pride that you accomplished East Africa's most difficult one-day climb!

The climb involves a fairly straight climb to the crater rim, followed by a long descent back to the starting point. It's a very steep climb and ascent, and so requires physical fitness. Ol Doinyo Lengai hiking is also quite unusual for being a nighttime climb. Only the descent is in the daylight. This is done to avoid the worst heat of the day. Setting off at around midnight adds an extra layer of adventure to the whole trek.

Another special thing about an Ol Doinyo Lengai hike is that climbers reach the top of the mountain – or near it – when the sun rises. From the rim, you gaze down into the yawning crater mouth. The smell of sulfur can be strong since it’s an active volcano, after all. Ol Doinyo Lengai is very near to the Equator and so the region is very hot much of the time. The temperature often climbs above 30℃. To avoid climbing in the heat, the hike starts a little after midnight.

Everyone wears headlamps to help them navigate the climb, even when there's moonlight. The aim is to reach the top by sunrise and enjoy the spectacular views brought on by the rising sun. Visitors descend the mountain during the morning hours, usually reaching the base at around noon.

The hike takes between 8-12 hours (round-trip), depending on your fitness and pace, hiking through steep inclines, scree, and volcanic ash, with the possibility of some slipping and sliding.

Mount Ol Doinyo Lengai Climb Itinerary – 3 Days / 2 Nights hike:

Day 1: Tourists depart Moshi town or Arusha city at 7.00 am and drive to Ngaresero village on Lake Natron with a packed lunch which is about 5-6 hours driving, then have dinner and overnight at Giraffe eco camp.

Day 2: In the very early morning around 1:00 a.m., visitors drive to the base of the Ol’doinyo Lengai Mountain to start the climb. They reach the summit during sunrise and spend some time there before coming down to the base of the mountain. From there, visitors are transferred by jeep to Giraffe eco camp for refreshments, dinner, and overnight.

Day 3: Visitors get morning breakfast, and then drive back to Arusha or Moshi and this usually depends on the itinerary.

Ol Doinyo Lengai climb can be done all year round. The volcano is in an arid savannah region where there isn't too much rain. Daytime temperatures are usually 20 plus Celsius and regularly move above 30℃ between September and March. April tends to be the rainiest month. June to August are the coolest and driest months, and so are popular months for climbing Ol Doinyo Lengai.

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