Lake Natron

Lake Natron sits at the base of Ol Doinyo Lengai, the only active carbonatite volcano on Earth. Its alkaline waters, rich in sodium carbonate, create an otherworldly landscape of crimson and orange.

The Flamingo Nursery

Despite its harsh conditions — temperatures can reach 60°C and the pH rivals ammonia — Lake Natron is the primary breeding ground for 2.5 million lesser flamingos. The caustic environment keeps predators at bay, making it a paradoxical sanctuary.

Photographing here means working fast. The salt flats reflect light so intensely that exposures need constant adjustment. But the results are worth the effort: landscapes that look more like another planet than East Africa.

Conservation

Plans for a soda ash extraction plant have been shelved, but the lake remains vulnerable to climate change and upstream water diversion. Its preservation is critical — not just for flamingos, but for the entire Rift Valley ecosystem.