Lake Nakuru

Lake Nakuru is one of several alkaline lakes found in the Great Rift Valley and has been a National Park since 1961. Although not particularly large (just under 170 square kilometres its biggest claim to fame is the spectacular numbers of pink flamingo that visit it every year. Over 2,000,000 have been seen on the Lake at any one time, feeding on the algae that thrive in its warm waters, although the numbers can vary greatly depending on the conditions. They wade in great flocks through the shallow waters, turning the whole lake into a shimmering shade of pink.

Lake Nakuru is an excellent destination to visit to search for two of the big 5 you often struggle to see elsewhere. It is home to a population of Rhino who graze in the early morning on the sweet vegetation on the Lakes edge. With both Black and White Rhino present and comparatively little open grazing, it makes spotting them much easier than in some of the larger reserves. It is also an excellent place for trying to see leopard, undoubtedly the hardest of the big 5 to see. Another rare animal in the park is the Rothschild giraffes, an endangered species from Western Kenya, introduced in the 1970s to help protect its future.

As well as the 2 types of resident flamingos, there are also pelicans and cormorants on the lake, and over 400 other species of bird. As the lake can vary from 6 to over 40 square kilometres, depending on the season, there is a great variation on what can be seen at any one time.

There are only 2 lodges inside the Park, with several others situated nearby in Nakuru town that abuts the Park. Many visitors opt to stay at the nearby Lake Naivasha and travel to Nakuru for a day trip. Whichever way you do it, the sight of the Lake is well worth the journey.

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