Tanzania: Climbing Oldonyo Lengai Volcano

Ol Doinyo Lengai means “Mountain of God” in the Maasai language and is the only active volcano in Tanzania. Interestingly, it’s one of the view volcanoes in the world producing a very rare natrocarbonatite lava (rich in sodium and potassium). Climbing this volcano is an adventure more challenging and extreme then Kilimanjaro or Mount Kenya. The climb is very steep, nearly vertical in places, and the terrain of old lava flows in not easy go up on. Additionally, the dangers of volcanic activity, poisonous gas eruptions, and lava flows are ever present as the volcano has been continuously active for hundreds of years. You start the climb around 2am and make it to the top just before sunrise.