Wellness

EXTRAORDINARY TANZANIAN EXCURSIONS NOW

Lake Natron, Tanzania by George Steinmetz.

by George Steinmetz. Lake Natron, Tanzania

While our trip to Tanzania was primarily to witness the Great Migrations in Serengeti and to hang out with the chimpanzees in Mahale, we found that this country has many other spectacular sights to see and experiences to enjoy. Here are a few of the most beautiful ones we discovered.

LAKE NATRON

You won’t see a lake like Lake Natron anywhere else on this planet. Check out the color! And the patterns!

This lake has a unique chemistry, with a mixture of mineral salts and a combination of other minerals called natron (sodium carbonate decahydrate or hydrated soda ash) which makes up most of the historical salt. It’s level of alkalinity is close to that of ammonia. No swimming here.

Located in the dry northern region of Tanzania, near Kenya, this lake also has a high rate of evaporation, as it is less than 3 meters deep. It is fed by both the Southern Ewaso Ng'iro River and also by mineral-rich hot springs. The water is hot -- it can reach 60 °C (140 °F).

Salt-loving microorganisms (halophiles) proliferate, including some cyanobacteria. They utilize a special pigment for photosynthesis that produces deep red and orange colors.

Nothing else lives in the main lake. But it provides an important habitat -- It is the only regular breeding area in East Africa for the 2.5 million Lesser Flamingoes, which feed on Spirulina (a blue-green algae with red pigments).

MANTA RESORT

Another extraordinary Tanzanian jewel is the Manta Resort on Pemba Island, off the coast of Zanzibar.

You can sleep with the fishes in the resort’s incredible three level underwater suite. The master bedroom is surrounded by windows that give you the experience of diving and dreaming at the same time.

The room floats almost 250 m (820 ft) away from the coast, anchored to the ocean floor.

You will sleep in the center of a blue hole, an area of the coral reef approximately 50 m (164 ft) wide where the sea drops to 12 m (39 ft) deep during high tide. And you will be treated to some of the most exotic underwater life ever seen.

Of course you can also leave your room to go diving to see even more.

Enter your own images and ideas about Beautiful Migrations in this week’s creative Photo Competition. Open for entries now until 11:59 p.m. PT 08.31.14. If you are reading this after that date, check out the current BN Creative Competition, and enter!