Its convenient location makes the lake an easy add-on to your trip to or from the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater or for those hiking the active volcano, Ol Donyo Lengai. This red tinge to the water can even be seen from space 6. Lake Natron is located 135 kilometres north of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and a similar distance from the Serengeti National Park. The water of Lake Natron sometimes turns red (or orange-red) because of the algae that thrives in its hypersaline environment. The lake is largely inhospitable to most life forms, thus providing 2.5 million flamingos protection from greedy predators eyeing their eggs. The lake has great ecological importance as it is the only place in East Africa where the flamingos breed, in a safe environment where the water’s alkaline nature deters much other life from settling in the surrounding area. Fed by mineral-rich springs and the Ewaso Ng’iro River, the lake is part of the East Rift Valley and lies north of the Ngorongoro Crater. The salmon-pink birds can be seen gingerly picking their way through the soda lake and nesting on ash-coloured mud mounds. The fierce colours of Lake Natron melt from burnt oranges to fuchsias and maroons, while once a year a colour clash of magnificent proportions occurs as East Africa’s largest flock of lesser flamingos swarm to the lake to breed. Tags: flamingo, Lake Natron, masai, park, safari, volcano, walk. The study presented that the average area of the Haditha dam Lake for the period 2001-2016 was 313 km2, compared to the average area of 418 km2 for the period 1988-2000, which means that the. As isolated as the lake is (it wasn't even discovered by Europeans until 1954), there are no protections in place for the lake or its threatened flamingo population.įollow Marc Lallanilla on Twitter and Google+. During the wet season, from November May. The last quarter of the year at Lake Natron tends to be rainy and warm. The serenity of Lake Natron - and its flamingo population - are threatened by a proposed hydroelectric power plant on the Ewaso Ngiro River, the main river feeding the lake. There is no obvious relation between food supply and this breeding date. As shallow lakes in a hot climate, their water temperatures can reach as high as 106 degrees Fahrenheit (41 degrees Celsius). Both are terminal lakes that do not drain out to any river or sea they are fed by hot springs and small rivers. It's impressive to see how a pair of flamingoes builds a nest, which can be up to 30 cm high to protect the chicks from the floods and to keep it cool. The best time to view these magnificent birds are either at sunrise or sunset when the heat is not so ferocious. If you want to see the egg laying and hatching, the best season starts with the receding of the water level, October and December is the peak. In fact, around 75 of the world’s lesser flamingo population are born at Lake Natron. Lake Natron is one of two alkaline lakes in that area of East Africa the other is Lake Bahi. The beguiling lesser flamingo feed on algae found in soda lakes across eastern Africa but choose to breed almost exclusively at Lake Natron. The flamingos' nests are built on small islands that form in the lake during the dry season. Still, there may be some though they tend to congregate in the middle of the lake. During breeding season, more than 2 million lesser flamingos ( Phoenicopterus minor) use the shallow lake as their primary breeding ground in Africa.

Lake natron flamingo season