Lake Natron & Ol Doinyo Lengai

Natron's caustic, blood-red waters are so hostile that nothing but cyanobacteria and brine flies survive — yet here the entire population of East African lesser flamingos comes to nest. Above the lake, Ol Doinyo Lengai (the Maasai 'Mountain of God') is the only active carbonatite volcano on earth.

Hike to the Ngare Sero waterfalls, climb Lengai through the night for a sunrise summit, or simply stay at a tented camp to watch the flamingo lines move across the soda flats.