Lake Natron is the largest alkaline (soda) lake in the Great Rift Valley in the midst of a semi-arid desert, dusty and cracked earth and dry riverbeds; it is a far cry from the lush greenery a few miles away in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Serengeti plains. Lake Natron lies completely in Tanzania with its northern tip on the border with Kenya, and is about 60kms long. The lake has a very high concentration of sodium carbonate (Soda) and magnesite, some of it leached from the lava flows of Mount Oldo inyo Lengai nearby. As a result the lake and the surrounding area is inhospitable but in a rustic kind of way, it is a beautiful and isolated desert.

flamingo mum and chick on ¡°miniature volcano-like nests¡±The lake is the known as the world's most important breeding ground for millions of ¨flame birds¨ or lesser flamingo - a true ornithological paradise. The flamingo (legendary phoenix) were seen by ancient civilizations to be a bird of magical power and the flamingo tongue was a delicacy for ancient Romans. The beautiful delicate pink feathers and long slender pink legs of these fascinating birds are even more beautiful when large flocks huddle together and are reflected off the surface of the soda lake. Seeing flamingo skim over the surface of the water during take off or landing is simply incredible!

At Lake Natron, flamingo courting is enmasse in a synchronized dance much like a spectacular ballet. The flamingo feed off masses of microscopic algae that cover the surface of the lake making its surface appear red when seen from space. Breeding takes place between August and October, and the flamingo nests resemble mini volcanoes, constructed from mud, to prevent predators from getting to the eggs or little chicks. (They're not just a pretty face after all!)