Along the road that takes you from Karatu to Lake Natron, through the Gregory Rift Valley, is what locals call “God’s Hole” or Shimo La Mungu in KiSwahili. There are several sites with the same name in Tanzania; however, this one is a prominent stop for safari jeeps making their way towards the red sands of Lake Natron and its colony of Flamingos – past the whispering Ol Doinyo Lengai.
What is Shimo La Mungu?
Shimo La Mungo, is a steep-sided mini volcanic crater, about 300m deep and 1km wide. These days, it is used as a point to rest, take photos or a walking tour while on the way towards the larger attractions further north.
The crater is what is called a phreatomagmatic maar, the result of a single violent steam explosion, likely caused by hot magma that has risen from deep within the Gregory rift. While there has not been any recorded volcanic activity from the crater, the surrounding rift valley is a hot spot for volcanologists and ecologists.
What the crater offers today is a stunning 180° panoramic view of Ol Doinyo Lengai and the surrounding rift valley.
Maasai Ledgend
As with all ecological anomalies in this area, the Maasai tribe tell legends about this crater. Some say that the hole was created when the Maasai god, Engai, climbed into the Ol Doinyo Legani. His enormous foot left this print in the rocks, as he fled the sting of a Maasai hunter’s arrow. Others say that this is where the god knelt to pray to the holy mountain before it became the deity’s home. Regardless of which version you subscribe to, the hollow crater stands out in the otherwise flat valley floor.
At the stopping point, the Maasai Tribe’s people stand under the shade of a tree, perched upon the cliffside. They will say hello and sell souvenirs. The photo below was taken under the exact tree shown in the photo above.
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