Since the lake is alkaline, the animals do not drink of it. You may also spot the white-lipped tilapia that is endemic to the Great Rift lakes, as these fish are quite abundant, and the occasional giraffe or zebra. The lake is, in fact, the primary breeding ground for lesser flamingo in East Africa, with more than two million individual birds flocking to the area every year with egg laying and hatching occurring between September and April, with an additional tens of thousands other waterfowl found near the lake, making Lake Natron a prime destination for bird lovers on an avian holiday in Africa.

Special bacteria and blue-green algae thrive in the environment, producing an ideal breeding ground for avian life. As the fresh water vaporizes, what remains is water with high concentrations of salt minerals. Lake Natron is primarily fed by the southern Ewaso Nyiro River, as well as hot mineral springs. As you plan your Natron lake tour of northern Tanzania with AfricanMecca, you may discover the great myth surrounding the lake - that it has the ability to turn animals into stone.Īlthough the water of the lake does contain soda, magnesite and salt, the myth is untrue. A small part of the lake is also accessible from the Shompole wilderness in southern Kenya.

Located just seventy miles northwest of Arusha is the alkaline Lake Natron bordering Kenya.

Natron lake in tanzania