Lake Nakuru National Park
Lake Nakuru National Park is renowned as a bird sanctuary with over 400 bird species, including huge flocks of flamingoes and many other water birds.
Destination Highlights
Lake Nakuru is an excellent park for wildlife spotting and is home to many water-loving animals such as hippos and waterbucks. A safari to Lake Nakuru National Park can be completed in one day or combined with a visit to Lake Naivasha and the nearby Aberdare National Park.
Lake Nakuru National Park Background Information
Lake Nakuru was first gazetted as a bird sanctuary in 1960 and upgraded to National Park status in 1968. The Park has Kenya’s largest population of rhinos. The surface of the Lake Nakuru occupies about a third of the park. It supports a dense bloom of the blue-green Cyanophyte Spirulina platensis from which it derives its colour and is a food source for flamingos. During peak season over millions of flamingos and Pelicans congregate on the lake.
Along the lengths of the Rift Valley are volcanoes, most now dormant. Lake Nakuru has become a national park and supports a wide ecological diversity. It is home to large protected flocks of lesser flamingoes, which turn the lake a vivid pink. It is also famous for it pelicans, black and white rhino, colobus monkeys, as well as, numerous antelopes, buffalo and giraffe.
What to see and do
The lake supports the blue-green Cyanophyte Spirulina Platensis, which is the main food source for the brilliant pink flamingoes that can be found wading on the lake’s edge. At times, there can be up to two million greater and lesser flamingoes and tens of thousands of other birds.
Bird watching: Enjoy the fabulous water birds and other bird species. The best place to view the birds is from Baboon Cliff, where you get an excellent view over the lake, and the wonderful spectacle of pink flamingoes along its edge. However, the number of birds in the park fluctuates as food conditions change, so check the bird population with the national park before making the journey.
Wildlife: See the endangered white rhinos and other animals including waterbucks, warthogs, hippos, impalas, buffalo, Rothschild giraffes and more.Drive through the unique vegetation and the biggest euphorbia forest in Africa.Viewpoints include Lion Hill, Baboon Cliff and Out of Africa. Visit the beautiful waterfall at Makalia.
Where to find Lake Nakuru National Park
