Hi Franziska Listening to Judith your question is about if you can see that it is active. When we where up there you can not see Magma (it is black) but you do see gas coming out of the mountain. Apparently the magma is black of color and some of the coldest magma in the world. When it is pitch black you can see the glowing (apparently). I also made use of Masaai Giraffe Ecolodge and had a good experience. (recommended). Please do the mountain it is 100% worth it just make sure you are fit enough and mentally prepared. The views you get going up and down is one of a kind. Enjoy! Wessel

Oh, I am sorry, I haven't seen you question until now. I hope my answer is not going to be too late. You don't need a company but it is wise to go with a local guide. People from the Maasai Giraffe Ecolodge, where we stayed, went with local Maasai working at the lodge

Yes one day is enough. It is one of the hardest climbs, but you start at midnight and you summit around 6am. You climb at night because it gets too hot during the day and also because watching the sunrise in the direction of Kilimanjaro is incredible. I recommend you stay and climb with Engarosero Lake Natron camp. They are the best camp in the area, with a natural spring flowing through it helping you recover from the hikes in the area. They also make sure that you climb with a good guide rather than just taking a lucky dip

No, its not possible to climb Ol Doinyo Lengai on your own. The $100 you mention isn't a fee for a guide, its the fee you pay the Maasai village, who own the land and believe Ol Doinyo Lengai is sacred, to climb the mountain. The village also insists that a local Maasai is employed as a guide and paying your local Maasai guide is not included in the $100. In addition to the legal reasons above are the safety aspects. You are highly unlikely to encounter any wild animals on the climb, however the route is not marked and the upper sections are across crumbling lava flows and loose ash with few features and plenty of nasty drops if you wander from the path. It would be very easy to end up lost and potentially in a very dangerous situation. There is a road to the base of the mountain and a place where you can leave your car. However it is a long was from aywhere and you would be best off taking another person to guard the vehicle as thefts are not unheard of. So you can't climb Ol Doinyo Lengai without a guide but you can cut costs in other ways. There's no need to go with a tour company, you can drive to Lake Natron on your own if you have a vehicle. The way is pretty easy and the checkpoints are cheap and easy to get through. There is also a campsite at Engaresero which is fairly cheap. The waterfalls you mention are just beyond the campsite, its pretty obvious as you just need to follow the river up the massive canyon. When I went there was no need for a guide to the waterfall and it was perfectly save to go on your own, barely a stroll really.