Note: when flamingos migrate from lake natron they head to different alkaline lakes in north Tanzania, so you won’t see them in larger flocks as how they can be seen in lake natron where most of them go for breeding.The lake Natron famously known as the red lake as it can turns animals into the stone is located on the northern part of Tanzania on the border of Kenya near the great East Africa rift is the soda lake that is located on the base of the Ol Donyo Lengai volcanic It is famously named this way because of its alkaline nature with the PH of 10.5, the lake is very rich with soda and salt minerals hence can burn the animals that are not acquainted with water. This is because rains fill the lakes hence lead to the disappearing of algae which is their major food. In this time thousands of flamingos start to arrive in the area from their breeding site Lake Natron, normally they gather in Lake Manyara up to late July before migrating to the other depending on the water level.Ĭhanges in precipitation determine their directions. The ideal time for flamingo flock enjoyment in lake Manyara is from May. This period is categorized by the receding of water levels and offers opportunities for the colonies to spread out and follow the path found in the soda ash where ideal mud can be reached for the nest construction.Īn affordable accommodation option found in the area when visiting is Lake Natron Tented Camp. Flamingos in Natron lay their eggs usually during the end of the dry season September and October, but the hatching starts in the early parts of the wet season and peaking through December.SO, WHAT ARE THE BEST PLACES AND TIME TO SEE FLAMINGOS IN TANZANIA? LAKE NATRON. Flamingo migration is mainly determined by the water level of the lakes. Also, they do migrate between lake natron in Tanzania and Lake Bogoria in Kenya.įlamingos migration is triggered by the food, mating season, and the rising and receding of the lake’s water levels.įlamingos prefer shallow lakes, so any increasement of water level in the area may cause these birds to migrate away to other alkaline habitats.Other Lakes are Lake Momela, Empakaai crater, Ngorongoro crater, Lake Magadi in Ngorongoro, and other alkaline lakes found in the country.While the entire world of the travel industry is focusing on the wildebeest migration between Serengeti national park Tanzania and Maasai Mara national reserve in Kenya on the ground, intense bird watchers are scanning the skies as the large group of migratory flamingos on the journey between alkaline lakes in Tanzania such as lake Natron and Manyara.
#Lake natron flamingo nest skin
Also, water in lake natron has excessive salt and temperatures that can reach up to 140 degrees, and pH ranges between 9 to 10.5 which is so acidic that it can calcify and burn skin and eyes of unadapted animals.įlamingos are adapted to the area (with scales covering their long legs) and take advantage of corrosiveness of the lake by laying eggs in the area hence receives much protection from the predators. Nesting sites are isolated from land predators and human disturbance. You may ask yourself why Natron and not elsewhere in the world, right? Well, this is because in Lake Natron Yes! this is because the lake is the only place on the planet where the eggs can regularly be laid. Over 75% of the world’s population of lesser flamingos are born in the Lake Natron found at the base of Mount oldoinyo lengai (the only active volcano in the country) inside the great rift valley, Tanzania. The pinkish and reddish colors of a flamingo’s plumages come from their food green algae which contain pigments known as carotenoids responsible for the flamingo’s coloration. Greater flamingo on the left and lesser on the right in Tanzania.įlamingos represent the phrase “you are what you eat”. Another way of differentiating the greater flamingo from lesser is the presence of blackish on the tip of its bill. The greater flamingo is the largest of all flamingo species, stand at 60 inches tall, weigh about 2 to 4 kg. Lesser and greater flamingos can easily be distinguished when they flock together in the following way.
The remaining 2 species which are the lesser and greater flamingos are mainly found throughout Europe, Asia, and Africa including Tanzania with 70% of the lesser flamingos born in the lake natronįlamingos can be identified by their long necks, sticklike legs, and reddish or pink plumages. There are 6 flamingo species in the world, 4 of which are found in Northern and Southern America.
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