Apparently, Ol Doinio Langai is the only (known) active volcano in East Africa. Next to the mountain live a few farmers, the last remnants of hunter-gatherers and mainly Maasai shepherds, these too know (and cherish) the mountain and respect its presence.
Anyone who visits in the northern reserves of Tanzania from which smoke often billows. "The Oldunio Ngai rises to a height of about 3000 meters and is the third highest in Tanzania. The mountains that are higher than it are Kilimanjaro, which is also the highest of the African mountains, and Mount Meru, which is Kilimanjaro's neighbor."
Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru are dormant volcanoes - at least for the last hundred thousand years. The "Ol Duino Langai" is active, roaring and emitting smoke and sometimes even lava and rocks. The last time the mountain erupted was in 2008. Lava flows and sounds of thunder startled the residents of the area but did not cause any real damage, since then the mountain emits smoke but quietly, later we will understand why the mountain is quiet.
Because of its uniqueness and importance, the "Parliamentary Committee for Natural Resources" of Tanzania proposes to add the mountain and its surroundings to the "Ngorongoro Conservation Area" and thus ensure the integrity of its natural environment. The environmental importance of the mountain is in its unique nature but also because of its proximity to Lake Natron, a soda lake which is the nesting area of millions of lesser flamingos.
About three million years ago, Mount Ol Doino Langai emitted volcanic ash that covered large areas. Rain turned the ashes into mud and three creatures walked in the mud and left their footprints. The mud hardened and most of the time was covered with silt. Topographic changes created a wide wadi, and the flows in the wadi revealed the tracks of the three creatures. The footprints were discovered by a couple of paleontologists, Liki, and were identified as footprints left by two walkers. These traces are attributed to one of the ancestors of the human race: the Australo-Pitkos-Afarensis (the southern ape from Ash).
Not far away, in Wadi Oldubai, fossils of late species were discovered, the most famous of which are Homo habilis (the skillful man) and Homo erectus (the upright man).
The Ol Duino Langai continued its activity and about one hundred thousand years ago it emitted a cloud of ash that landed on the ground and created several small but unique dunes. One of the dunes has been under constant surveillance for about fifty years and anyone who comes to it can see its constant progress.
Apparently Ol Doino Langai is the only (known) active volcano in East Africa. Next to the mountain live a few farmers, the last remnants of hunter-gatherers and mainly Maasai shepherds, these too know (and cherish) the mountain and respect its presence.
The fact that the mountain is active, makes sounds (speaks), melts rocks and flows red and fiery rivers, can only be interpreted in one way: the voices and the fiery streams are the words of God and therefore the mountain is called the Mountain of God, or in the language of the Maa (Maasai) Ol Doino Langai.
Like religious populations all over the world, so many African tribes and also the Maasai place God on a high mountain. It is clear to the Masai that in the case of Haul Duino Langai, God not only sits (quietly) on the mountain but sometimes also...speaks! God "shoots" rocks, his voice thunders and causes the earth to shake and red hot rivers to flow from the mouth of the mountain (in some places these rivers are called lava).
The existence of the mountain and its Maasai name has also been known to travelers and explorers for more than a hundred years. The Maasai arrived in the area about five hundred years ago and it is clear that their familiarity with the active mountain made them conclude that whenever voices are heard and sights are seen from the mountain - these are the words of a living God. It is also clear to them that the thunders, the earthquakes and the lava streams are a demand for sacrifices, the mountain or God is speaking and demanding his share, otherwise there will be disasters. If God does not will - the thunders will grow stronger and the lava streams will destroy villages and kill people and animals.
The clear and correct way to prevent disasters is of course to please the mountain or God with sacrifices. Therefore, every time the activity of the mountain increases, the elders of the villages collect a tithe or a ransom: goats, patches, pots full of honey and even a pitcher of beer of their own making, the sacrifices are placed at the foot of the mountain at sunset the next day after sunrise the sacrifices "disappear" and the Maasai celebrate with the understanding that God accepted and ate The ransom, he accepted the sacrifice, we will be satisfied and therefore at least for a while there will be peace.
Skeptical viewers will explain that the "Voice of God" is volcanic activity, and it is also clear that the skeptics among us "know" that the area is rich in wild animals: badgers that love honey, hyenas and other predators that are happy to kill the goats and lambs and even monkeys that do not sneer at the taste of beer. These are also the ones who are happy about the sacrifices left by the Maasai and during the night they celebrate.
But those who live in the area, namely the Maasai, remember events in which the mountain erupted and caused destruction and the fleeing of residents for a long distance. A distance where God's wrath will not reach. The Maasai also know and remember that every time the mountain began to make noises and the elders of the village rushed to offer sacrifices... the silence of the mountain.
The authorities do not believe in the effectiveness of offering sacrifices and therefore every time there are signs of an outbreak the residents are asked to evacuate the area, they are asked but they do not evacuate as they have a clear way to please the mountain of God and quiet it.
The area around the mountain is called Enkaresero and its area is about 1500 square kilometers. The people of the villages in the area take part in the busy tourist activity, and profit from providing services and leasing areas to lodges (hotels), as well as from a share of the entrance fees to the surrounding reserves. Porters accompany the tourists who come to climb the Mount of God and of course before each climb they ensure peace by offering sacrifices. It is therefore clear that when the authorities order an evacuation due to the possibility of an outbreak - the residents who believe prefer to make sacrifices and thus convince the mountain of God to cease.
We also visit the area (I lead a safari on 15/02). Travelers will have the opportunity (among others): to visit the magnificent reserves of northern Tanzania and follow the rich diversity of animals; to meet with the Maasai, the Hadzaba - hunter-gatherers and the Datoga - cattle herders; to watch the Olduvai Channel whose publication came from the paleontological findings, and of course to see Mount God from the other side; Climb the unique dune, and in suitable conditions notice from a distance the smoke rising above the Mount of God and maybe even hear it.
It's not every day you can hear God (it doesn't matter which one) speak.
