Hosting over 2.5 million lesser flamingos. Soda lakes and ponds in Tanzania and Kenya regions boosts some of the most spectacular birds scenes. Whereas Kenya flamingo spots are in major lakes which are which are excellent bird zones, it’s only Lake Nakuru and Lake Amboseli where you can have a quality game view alongside flamingo watching. On the other hand, flamingo spots in Tanzania are mostly small lakes and tarns found in major parks where flamingo watching play alongside an excellent wildlife view. In this guide we shall discuss some of the most popular flamingo spots and all that the destination has in their bucket of experiences.
1. Lake Natron
The lake in the North west of Arusha tops our list for being world’s largest flamingo breeding ground. Being a strongly alkaline lake, at times going to a pH 12, the lake is inhabitable for almost every creature on earth. The strong alkalinity offers optimal condition for growth of saline adopted microorganism that turns the lake surface to a fascinating lunar beauty. Here flamingos breed in the lakes evaporite islands buffered by the harsh saline waters keeping away all sought of opportunistic creatures.
Flamingo incubation season in Lake Natron starts in July and can go up to the last week of August. It takes about 27 days for a flamingo to hatch with male and female flamingos incubating in turns. The only problem with lake Natron, and the reason why only a few tourists visit, is that its is not a major game viewing spot. However, with the lake set on the foot of ol donyo lengai, which is East Africa’s most active volcano you will can take a hiking challenge to the summit at 2960 about halfway the height of kilimanjaro. The mountain boost some excellent viewpoints for red shaded lake Natron, Ngorongoro crater and the escarpments of the great rift valley.
2. Lake Manyara
This is the most visited flamingo hotspot in Tanzania mainly due to its accessibility to Ngorongoro and Serengeti which are Tanzania’s most sought-after destinations. Lake Manyara is a large lake and is Tanzania’s most rewarding aquatic birds spot. Beside flamingos, you will sight flocks of storks foraying on the shallow shorelines. Like other birding spots in East Africa lake Manyara also hosts a number of migratory birds especially pelicans that come to the country for wintering.
When compared to lake Natron, Lake Manyara is better for a combined flamingo watching and wildlife safari. The lake park is part of major wildlife migrations, especially elephants, who move in large herds between lake Manyara, Tarangire and slopes of steppes mountains.
3. Great lake momella
The lake is one of lakes formed out of volcanic action in mount Meru situated in Arusha National park. Located just 50km from arusha airport, the starting point of most safaris in the northern circuit, a visit to lake momella can be combined with a lake Manyara, Ngorongoro and Serengeti tour.
For a perfect view of the flamingos in the lake you can choose to carry out a boat riding excursion which guarantee unmetered view of the shorelines.
Besides Great momella the other lakes are scenic birding spots for aquatic birds that survive in waters of different alkalinity. The Rishateni which has the highest fluoride concentration in the world will impress with the characteristic green coloured water. Due to the high acidity you will hardly find wildlife drinking water in the lakes apart from a small hippos pool, namely lake longil(fresh water), where a host of zebras, bufallos and waterbirds frequent.
Though the Arusha national park is not an impressive game viewing spot as the other northern circuit, the park is one of the few places where you are guaranteed of encountering a buffalo. Besides the park is a stronghold for giraffes, wildebeest and giraffes.
4. Lake Ndutu
The seasonal lake is in Ngorongoro-serengeti section, a prime game viewing spot. Though small in size the lake has large amount of algae and crustaceans that attract swarms of greater and lesser flamingo during the rainy season. the region is also a stronghold for water birds mostly shoreline birds.
What makes lake Ndutu a great choice for a flamingo safari is that you are guaranteed of quality game view alongside birding. The region is well known for hosting the calving season where thousands of wildebeest give birth to over 500000 newborns each year. At the height of the season you may see herds of wildebeest crossing the shallow lake in an epic similar to the mara river crossing.
5. Lake Eyasi
The seasonal lake is isolated a short drive to the south of Serengeti national park and south west Ngorongoro crater. Though the surrounding area isn’t an excellent game spot, the lake is an impressive destination for avid birders and film makers. The perfect time to visit the lake for flamingo viewing is April and November when there are long rains and short rains respectively. During your safari you will enjoy interacting with the hunters and gatherers hadza community who are the oldest community contemporary community in Tanzania. The hadzane have linguistic relation with other indigenous communities like the san of South Africa.
6. Lake magadi
The small lake on the floor of Ngorongoro is fed by a number of springs running from the crater’s walls. Ngorongoro crater is the world’s largest uneroded crater and the most scenic location in Tanzania. Lake Magadi boost impressive quantities of blue algae that like most other soda lakes of the great rift valley attracts large numbers of flamingos.
Being one of the riparian areas in the park, lake magadi offers one of the best wildlife and birding view perfect for a photoshoot. Some of the most commonly view are zebras, wildebeest, rhinos and elands.
7. Lake Empakaai
This is a crater lake in one of the mini craters of Ngorongoro. The soda pond is accessed in an adventurous hiking trails leading through scenic landscape, flora and fauna. Like most other soda lakes in the region the lake is a refuge for flamingos. The most alluring attribute of the crater it’s still intact with the shorelines rising into steep crater walls that perfect for photography.
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Keyword: flamingo spot, flamingo viewing, momella, lake manyara, lake natron, lake Ndutu, lake Magadi, lake eyasi
