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One of the biggest ironies of modern-day life is that the term “remote” is more commonly used for staying at home than for traveling somewhere off the grid. To me, “remote” means difficult travel to a place that can be treacherous to reach. This can mean a small island in the middle of the ocean or a wilderness area only accessible by hours of teeth-jarring off-roading. There’s something to be said for enduring the difficulties of going to enhance your experience of being somewhere. One such place that earns the title of “remote” is Lake Natron, near the northern border of Tanzania. The lake is a full day’s drive north from any pavement and the normal tourist experiences of Tanzanian safari parks. By the time you get there, you’ll have a thin layer of dust covering you, you’re a veteran of crossing muddy streams, and you’re probably a little sore from bouncing around the cabin of the truck all day. But the reward begins before you even arrive at your destination. As you head north, the sheer rock cliffs of the Great Rift Valley’s edge are off to the west. Large dust devils – whirlwinds – can be seen dancing across the plains to the east. While passing through a series of hills, a mountain looms in the distance. Eventually, you reach the base of Ol Doinyo Lengai, a large, singular volcano that dominates the landscape. After the long day’s travel, you finally enter the Engaresero Cultural Tourism Program area near the southern shore of Lake Natron. Lake Natron is a large and shallow “soda” lake. At times, dependent upon the season and weather, it can be over 30 miles long and 14 miles wide. Fed primarily by mineral-rich hot springs, its waters combine with the region’s little rainfall and are subjected to evaporation by the punishing sun to create a caustic alkaline brine that can have a pH greater than 12. For reference, chemical ammonia has a pH of 11. Only a few specialized organisms can survive in such a harsh environment. Some types of cyanobacteria bloom there, tinting the water blood-red at certain times of the year. The main draw for coming to this isolated place is its massive flocks of flamingoes. These pink birds feed on the microorganisms in the lake and make their nests on the salt flats where predators are loath to go. Both greater and lesser flamingoes can be found on the shores of Lake Natron in large, mixed flocks. The whites and pinks of their bodies stand in stark contrast to the austere habitat around them. Standing on the shores of the lake, surrounded by unique wildlife, feels exactly like something out of a nature documentary. I stood there once, out in the middle of nowhere to see some birds. How was the experience? I can honestly say it was one of the best of my life. I hiked up a gorge to see the waterfalls that help feed the lake. Exhausted from the hike, I napped at the tented camp under a mosquito net. Before sunset, I got in the truck for the short drive out to the lake. I parked and walked across the mud flats to see it. A few wildebeest were puttering around the small streams that fed Lake Natron. Behind me, the volcano Ol Doinyo Lengai, which means “Mountain of God” in the local Maasi language, towered over the flats like a solemn guardian. The surrounding plains were the muted gray of volcanic ash. The sun was at my back, and the flamingoes stood out in stark contrast. My guide and I were the only human beings in sight in this vast, alien landscape. I sent my drone up and flew it high to capture an image of the edge of the lake, the flamingoes and the volcano. And all I could do was to marvel that I was the only tourist out here to enjoy this wilderness, a pleasure far greater than writing emails in my pajamas from the comfort of my couch.