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Lake Nakuru National Park

At a glance

Area: 188 sq km. 

Location: Nakuru, Rift Valley Province. 

Altitude: 1,756 metres above sea level. 

Vegetation: 550 plant species and varied woodlands to include: acacia woodlands, Euphorbia and Olea forests.

Climate: the climate is warm and dry. 

Wildlife: Indigenous mammals include; the rare long-eared leaf-nosed    bat, colobus monkey, rock hyrax, hippo, leopard, lion, rhino, waterbuck, impala, gazelle, striped hyena, bat-eared fox, wild cat, reedbuck and golden cat. 

Re-stocked mammals include: lion, black and white rhino and the endangered Rothschild’s giraffe.

Birds: Up to 1.5 million flamingos plus 450 other species of birds. 

Overview

Entitled ‘the greatest bird spectacle on earth’ thanks to the millions of fuchsia-pink flamingo that flock to feed on the teeming algae of its alkaline waters, the pink-frosted shores and sky-mirrored waters of Lake Nakuru yield some of the most evocatively beautiful photo-images in Africa.  Small in size, but high in wildlife, this park makes the ideal day trip, enroute to other destinations and abounds in picturesque lookouts and picnic spots. As Kenya’s first and largest rhino sanctuary, sightings of both black and white rhino are almost guaranteed, while plentiful waterbuck, warthog, zebra, gazelle and buffalo graze the shoreline. Echoing to the haunting cries of the numerous fish eagles, this is also the park in which you have the best chance of seeing a leopard.  

The Flamingos

The lake is especially famous for the 1.5 million-strong population of Lesser Flamingo that gather on its shores to filter the brackish water through their beaks and thus extract the blue-green algae, Spirulina platensis, which proliferates in this unique alkaline aquatic environment. Greater flamingo also visit the lake, in smaller numbers than their shorter relatives, feeding usually on the lake bottom, up-ended like ducks or stalking in the shallows with heads submerged. For a variety of reasons neither species breed here, though both regularly make nests and indulge in courtship displays. 

On the safari trail 

Because the Park is so compact, game density is high and wildlife encounters are plentiful. This is also the Park where you are most likely to see a leopard while the high numbers of lion make sightings a real possibility. 

In the woodland forests watch out for endangered Rothschild's giraffe, colobus monkey, rhino and the odd striped hyena. In the bushlands look for eland, steenbok, impala and reedbuck while on the cliffs and escarpment you may see dik dik, rock hyrax and klipspringer.  On the lake you can enjoy the antics of the small hippo herd whilst on the lakeshore you’ll find numerous waterbuck, reedbuck and zebra. In the southern part of the Park look out for eland, Thomson’s and Grant’s gazelle.

Kenya’s first rhino sanctuary

Established as Kenya’s first rhino sanctuary, the Park now hosts one of the largest black rhino concentrations in the country and substantial numbers of white rhino have also been introduced. 

Where to find them: black rhino prefer bushy forested areas and are therefore more difficult to spot. White rhino prefer to graze in open grasslands, especially those around the lakeshore making them very easy to spot. 

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Amboseli / Nakuru / Masai Mara
LAS 503
6days/5nights
Kenya
Best of Kenya Safari
LBA0118
7days/6nights
Kenya
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LAS 1002
11days/10nights
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LAS 302
4days/3nights
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One Night Lake Nakuru
LAS 102
2days/1night
Kenya
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Las 402
5days/4nights
Kenya
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LAS 201
3days/2nights
Kenya
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LAS 1401
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