Lake Nakuru is world famous haunt for flamingos. This is a beautiful shallow lake just south of the township Nakuru, surrounded by acacia woodland and rich savannah, Lake Nakuru National Park is a superb example of conservation at work in the wild. Originally, and is still considered one of the finest ornithological sites in the world, the park also provides sanctuary for Rothschild giraffe, rhino and leopard.

The word Nakuru means "Dusty Place" in the Maasai language. Lake Nakuru National Park is approximately 160 Kms from Nairobi and lies on the edge of Nakuru town. Lake Nakuru was first gazetted as a bird sanctuary in 1960 and upgraded to National Park status in 1968. A northern extension was added to the park in 1974 and the lake was designated as a Ramsar site in 1990. The foundation of the parks food chains is the cyanophyte spirulina platensis which can support huge numbers of lesser flamingo.

Lake Nakuru is a very shallow strongly alkaline lake 62 km2 in extent. The lake catchment is bounded by Menengai crater to the north, the Bahati hills to the north east, the lion hill ranges to the east, eburu crater to the south and the mau escarpment to the west. Three major rivers, the njoro, makalia and enderit drain into the lake, together with treated water from the town's sewage works and the outflow from several springs along the shore.

The lake is world famous as the location of the greatest bird spectacle on earth - myriads of fuschia pink flamingoes whose numbers are legion, often more than a million maybe two. They feed on the abundant algae, which thrives in the warm waters. The lake is rich in other birdlife. There are over 400 resident species on the lake and in the surrounding park. Thousands of both little grebes and white winged black terns are frequently seen as are stilts, avocets, ducks, and in the European winter the migrant waders.

Lake Nakuru National Park now has more than 25 rhinos, one of the largest concentrations in the country, so the chances of spotting these survivors are good. There are also a number of Rothschild's giraffe, again translocated for safety from western Kenya beginning in 1977. Waterbuck are very common and both the Kenya species are found here. Among the predators are lion and leopard, the latter being seen much more frequently in recent times. The park also has large sized python snakes that inhabit the dense woodlands, and can often be seen crossing the roads or dangling from trees.


How to get there

Drive a distance of 160 kms from Nairobi on the main A104 road.

The Naishi airstrip services the park for tourism and Kenya Wildlife Services activities