Stage 04 • Great Rift Valley & Active Carbonatite Volcano

Lake Manyara (HTLM) to Kilimanjaro (HTKJ) via Lake Natron

Crimson saline waters (2,000 ft MSL), Gregory Rift Escarpment, and 9,718 ft Ol Doinyo Lengai

Distance 120.0 NM
Est. Time (150kts) 00h 48m
Target Alt 6,500–10,500 ft
Touch & Gos 2 Airfields

Departure: HTLM (Lake Manyara Airport)

  • Elevation: 4,150 ft MSL
  • Runway: 12/30 (1,220m Asphalt)
  • Fuel: Avgas 100LL (PPR)
  • Comms: AFIS 118.400 | MY NDB 389.0

Arrival: HTKJ (Kilimanjaro Int'l)

  • Elevation: 2,932 ft MSL
  • Runway: 09/27 (3,600m Asphalt)
  • Fuel: Avgas 100LL / Jet A-1
  • Comms: Tower 118.300 | KVN VOR 115.10

Visual Route Map & Navaids (Tanzanian Rift Valley Basin)

OL DOINYO LENGAI (9,718 FT) MT KILIMANJARO (19,341 FT) N E S W VAR 1°E (Mag °M) LAKE NATRON GREGORY RIFT ESCARPMENT MY 389.0 KVN 115.10 005°M 130°M 095°M HTLM Lake Manyara (4,150 ft) HTNT Natron Strip (T&G) HTAR Arusha (T&G) HTKJ Kilimanjaro Int'l

Navigation & Waypoint Breakdown

Ident Type Track (°M) Nav Aid / Frequency Dist ETE Landmarks & Flying Notes
HTLM Departure -- MY NDB 389.0 0.0 NM 00:00 Depart Lake Manyara on the Rift cliff edge; track North along the Gregory Rift Escarpment.
HTNT Touch & Go / VP 005° Visual Escarpment 38.0 NM 00:15 Circle the symmetrical cone of Ol Doinyo Lengai & low approach at Lake Natron dirt strip.
HTAR Touch & Go 130° ARK NDB 329.0 55.0 NM 00:37 Track SE past Mt Meru (14,977 ft) for a fast touch & go at Arusha Airport (HTAR).
HTKJ Arrival 095° KVN VOR 115.10 27.0 NM 00:48 Land beneath the massive snowcapped peak of Mount Kilimanjaro at Kilimanjaro Int'l.

Crimson Lake & Rift Volcano Tips

  • Crimson Cyanobacteria Waters: Lake Natron's intense red color comes from salt-loving haloarchaea microbes. In MSFS, the vivid red water bordered by white soda crusts offers unmatched visual drama.
  • Ol Doinyo Lengai ("Mountain of God"): Earth's only active natrocarbonatite volcano! Its cold black lava turns white upon contact with moisture. Maintain 10,000 ft altitude when passing near its peak.
  • Mount Meru & Kilimanjaro Weather: Massive mountain relief on either side creates localized thermal updrafts and rotor along the Arusha gap. Watch for sudden cloud caps forming over the peaks in afternoon flights.

Digital Asset Pack

EFB / SkyDemon Route String

HTLM HTNT HTAR HTKJ

Garmin TDS GTNXi Format (.gfp)

FPN/RI:HTLM:HTNT:HTAR:HTKJ

Save as LakeTour_Stage04.gfp or paste into TDS catalog.

MSFS .pln File

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<SimBase.Document>
    <FlightPlan.FlightPlan>
        <Title>HTLM to HTKJ Stage 4 Landlocked Lakes Tour</Title>
        <FPType>VFR</FPType>
        <RouteType>Direct</RouteType>
        <CruisingAlt>8500</CruisingAlt>
        <DepartureID>HTLM</DepartureID>
        <DepartureLLA>S3° 22 me' 35.00",E35° 49 me' 06.00",+004150.00</DepartureLLA>
        <DestinationID>HTKJ</DestinationID>
        <DestinationLLA>S3° 25' 46.00",E37° 04' 28.00",+002932.00</DestinationLLA>
        <ATCWaypoint id="HTLM">
            <ATCWaypointType>Airport</ATCWaypointType>
            <WorldPosition>S3° 22 me' 35.00",E35° 49' 06.00",+004150.00</WorldPosition>
            <ICAO><ICAORegion>HT</ICAORegion><ICAOIdent>HTLM</ICAOIdent></ATCWaypoint>
        </ATCWaypoint>
        <ATCWaypoint id="HTAR">
            <ATCWaypointType>Airport</ATCWaypointType>
            <WorldPosition>S3° 22' 02.00",E36° 37' 48.00",+004550.00</WorldPosition>
            <ICAO><ICAORegion>HT</ICAORegion><ICAOIdent>HTAR</ICAOIdent></ATCWaypoint>
        </ATCWaypoint>
        <ATCWaypoint id="HTKJ">
            <ATCWaypointType>Airport</ATCWaypointType>
            <WorldPosition>S3° 25' 46.00",E37° 04' 28.00",+002932.00</WorldPosition>
            <ICAO><ICAORegion>HT</ICAORegion><ICAOIdent>HTKJ</ICAOIdent></ATCWaypoint>
        </ATCWaypoint>
    </FlightPlan.FlightPlan>
</SimBase.Document>