Lake Nakuru National Park Kenya
Lake Nakuru National Park In Kenya
Lake Nakuru National Park was founded in 1961 in the South of Nakuru County in Kenya. It neighbors Nakuru town-the largest town in mid-western Kenya and the fourth largest town in Kenya. Lake Nakuru National Park named after Lake Nakuru which is found in the park. Lake Nakuru National Park is in the Kenyan rift valley about 164km north of Nairobi. The park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site registered under the Ramsar convention on wetlands and it is managed by the Kenya wildlife authority. Nakuru is a word of the local Maasai language to mean a “place of dust” or simply “Dust”. Lake Nakuru national park covers 188 sq.km that includes Lake Nakuru which is about 45sq.km and the larger part of savannah and mountainous area.
Lake Nakuru in the park features a lot of algae which attracts millions of flamingoes and other birds to line on the shores and feed on the algae. Lake Nakuru national park is most famous for being the birder`s paradise with over 400 species of birds such as millions of millions of fuchsia pink flamingos, Goliath herons, Hammerkops, pied kingfishers, African fish eagle, verreaux`s eagle and many others. Actually, the masses of flamingoes make it quite harder to recognize the edges of the lake.
Lake Nakuru national park is also a sanctuary for over 50 black rhinos an about 100 endangered white rhinos. Other wildlife species in this park include; Rothschild’s giraffes, dik-diks, Impalas, Burchell’s zebra, hippos, grants gazelles, waterbucks among others. Also, predators like lions, leopards and cheetahs have been spotted in Lake Nakuru national Park.
Brief facts About Lake Nakuru National Park Kenya
Location: Rift valley
Coordinates: 0°22′S 36°05′E
Lake Type: alkaline lake
Area: 5 to 45 km2 (1.9 to 17.4 sq mi)
Max. depth: 6 feet (1.8 m)
Primary outflows: Lake Nakuru has no outflow. No rivers or cracks flowing out of Lake Nakuru
What to see and do in the Lake Nakuru National Park Kenya
Flamingoes in Lake Nakuru National Park; Lake Nakuru National Park is world known as a home to the greatest sight of bird in the world. Millions of fuchsia pink flamingos of over two million lodge along the shores of lake Nakuru to feed on the abundant algae which thrives in the salty warm waters. Visit Lake Nakuru National park experience how birds perch on one leg and tuck in the other leg beneath their body. Did you even know that flamingos of Lake Nakuru national Park sort their food from mud and silt with bill turned upside down?
There are even other numerous species of birds in Lake Nakuru national park of over 400 bird species residing along the lake showers and in the rest of the park areas, such as thousands of little grebes, ducks, white winged black terns that usually perch on stilts, avocets, other birds migrate from Europe during winter season.
Rhino Sanctuary in Lake Nakuru National Park; Lake Nakuru National Park in Kenya is a home to about 100 white rhinos and the rare black rhinos about 50 of them can be seen. This rhino sanctuary in Lake Nakuru National Park was declared in 1970 by the Kenyan government. Rhinos are very huge animals than you expect, Males have an average weight of 2300kgs but can reach 3600kgs and the females have an average weight of 1700kgs.
The savannah areas of lake Nakuru National Park in inhabit a variety of wildlife such as plenty of impala, buffaloes, zebras, giraffes in the acacia trees, deer, and jackals can be spotted in the grasslands and dense forests of the park hunting for food. Occasionally, lions, leopards, wild dogs, colobus monkeys and big sized pythons can also be seen in Lake Nakuru National Park.
A combined visit to lake Nakuru National Park and other neighboring lakes Like Lake Naivasha and Lake Bogoria; Lake Bogoria is a saline lake that also inhabit myriads of flamingoes. Lake Bogoria is located in the southern rift valley and it is famous for geysers and hot springs found along its banks. over 10 geysers allocated in four positions surrounding lake Bogoria and these geysers erupt up to 5m high.
Boat cruise on lake Naivasha; A boat ride along Lake Naivasha rewards one with impressive wildlife views in Kenya. Lake Naivasha is a fresh water lake located close to the south of Lake Nakuru National Park. It is a home to various bird species, a sizable number of hippos and crocodiles. Riding along the calm waters of lake Naivasha raise your chances of experiencing a bald eagle diving down the lake to catch fish.
Where to stay in Lake Nakuru National Park
Number of lodges and campsites ranging from luxury, midrange to budget are available in Lake Nakuru National park. They include;
Sarova Lion Hill Game Lodge in Lake Nakuru National park-Kenya; This is a 4* hotel nestled along the Lion Hill plateau offering a good scenery of Lake Nakuru in Kenya. The lodge faces Hyrax Hill Menengai Crater, and Museum that rewards you with the history of the area upon visitation.
Ranking: Upmarket/ Luxury
Amenities and Facilities at Sarova Lion Hill Lodge
- 64 standard rooms and 3 suits.
- 2 conference rooms well furnished with WIFI, w/screen, LCD Projector, TV and DVDs, writing pads, flip chart board, markers and pens.
- Main restaurant with capacity of 150 guests.
- Soothing massage and spa
- Swimming pool
- En-suite Bathrooms
Flamingo Hill Tented Camp; Flamingo Hill is a 4.5* tented camp and the oldest in Lake Nakuru National Park.
The lodge features khaki canvas tents designed in neutral safari colors and thatched with roofs.
Ranking: Medium/ midrange
Amenities and Facilities at Flamingo Hill Tented Camp
- 25 tents each featuring 4 poster beds.
- En-suite bathrooms
- Swimming pool
- Massage
- Boutique stocked with African handicrafts
Kivu Resort; Kivu Resort is a tranquil resort located near lake Nakuru national park.
Amenities and Facilities at Kivu Resort
- Double/twin rooms, Triple rooms, Family rooms and Single nonsmoking rooms, with comfortable en-suite beds.
- Bunk-bed rooms
- Buffet breakfast
- Laundry
- Satellite TV*
- Gym
- Swimming Pool
- Free Wi-Fi
- Credit Card services
- Restaurant
- Free guarded parking
Lake Nakuru Flamingo Lodge in Lake Nakuru National Park Kenya; Lake Nakuru Flamingo Lodge is situated along Nakuru-Nairobi highway. It is about 140km from Nairobi and 10km from Nakuru. Lake Nakuru Lodge is almost a tiny village, featuring separate cottages made from stone and wood, in lush foliage and tropical gardens.
Amenities & Facilities at Lake Nakuru Flamingo Lodge.
- Family friendly
- Room service
- Laundry service
- Towel and linen service
- Gardener
- Restaurant Bar
- Security guard
- Housekeeper
- Credit cards accepted
- Hot water
- Parking
- Wi-Fi Internet
- Pool
Accessibility to Nakuru National Park Kenya
How to Get to Lake Nakuru National Park Kenya
Getting to Lake Nakuru National Park Kenya
From Nairobi take a leisurely drive through Nairobi to Nakuru highway to enjoy the impressive views of the great Rift valley en route. This is about 30 minutes` drive. It costs a few minutes to get ticket that allows you in the park and vehicle checking.
The road conditions are favorable even to 2-wheel drive vehicles s but less-traveled parts and hills will require a 4x4WD.
Lake Nakuru National park has three gates; the Main Gate and Lanet Gate connect the park to Nairobi-Nakuru highway and Nderit Gate which is occasionally used.
By air; fly for 25-minutes from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to Naishi airstrip inside the park.
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