Wildlife in Lake Natron

Wildlife in Lake Natron

Wildlife in Lake Natron since most animals find the lake’s high temperature (up to 60 °C [140 °F]) and its high and variable salt content inhospitable. Nonetheless, Lake Natron is home to some endemic algae, invertebrates, and birds. In the slightly less salty water around its margins, some fish can also survive.

For wildlife in Lake Natron is so rare but the Lake is a breeding place for thousands of  Rift Valley Flamingos. They build their nests using the soda flats between August and October. The flamingos feed with the lakes Spirulina algae. Because the flamingos use this area for breeding the lake and its surrounding is under the International concern for preservation. Other animals that inhabit this area are zebra, ostrich, fringed eared oryx, gazelle, gerenuk, lesser kudu, and golden jackal.

Normally, many animals migrate to Lake Natron in search of water during the rainy season, particularly in July from the hotter Lake Manyara and Tarangire regions. Animal concentrations are not particularly high, but visitors are more than likely to come across zebra and giraffe. Flamingo and pelican are the region’s star attraction. Lake Natron is East Africa’s only known breeding ground for the Lesser Flamingo. It is suggested that the extremely hot mud and highly alkaline water protects the bird’s nests from predators.

The lake is extremely remote and can only be reached after several hours’ drive from either Karatu/Lake Manyara or North Serengeti. The road leads from Mto wa Mbu through numerous villages towards Lake Natron (approx. 5 hours). The journey from Klein’s Gate (Serengeti) to Lake Natron takes 8 hours.