Lake Nakuru National Park
Lake Nakuru National Park is one of the greatest in Kenya since it has one of the Rift Valley soda lakes, Lake Nakuru. The park has three major entrances, and once inside, you will see a vast range of animal species, particularly the Flamingos, which turn the lake pink.
Nakuru National Park is most known for the flamingo colonies that reside on the park’s lake, Lake Nakuru. Lake Nakuru Park Kenya is a luxury wildlife park, one of only three in the country and one of Kenya’s most visited.
Lake Nakuru Park is recognized as a bird lover’s paradise due to the abundance of species that live there. Almost 400 bird species occur at Lake Nakuru Kenya Park, including flamingos that live on the lake and on the park’s savannah grasslands. African Fish Eagle, Slender-billed greenbul, Long-tailed widowbird, Rufous-throated wryneck, Montane white-eye, Red-capped lark, Northern puff back, RĂĽppell’s robin-chat, Shining sunbird, and many more are among the bird species.
While Nakuru National Park is well-known for its abundant birds, it is also a popular location for animal enthusiasts and wildlife adventurers. Lake Nakuru National Park is home to about 100 endangered rhinos, including black and white rhinos, as well as the endangered Rothschild’s giraffe and 50 or more other animal species including as buffalos, waterbucks, lions, impalas, and many more.
Because of the birds and other outstanding characteristics in the park, Lake Nakuru National Park has expanded over the years to become one of the most visited parks in Kenya by visitors each year. Visitors to Lake Nakuru Park may enjoy activities such as bird watching, wildlife viewing, camping, picnics on the park’s stunning rocky vantage points, and many more.
Nakuru Kenya National Park was established in 1957 as a conservation area for the birds of Lake Nakuru, particularly flamingos, and the protected area only comprised Lake Nakuru and a tiny portion of the adjacent territories. This was done to protect the lake, prevent pollution, and protect the bird life that was flowering on Lake Nakuru.
The existing established conversed region, which is the current southern portion of Nakuru National Park, was proclaimed a bird sanctuary in 1961, and certain regulations were put in place to assure bird preservation in that area.
Lake Nakuru National Park was designated as one of Kenya’s national parks in 1968. This occurred after the park’s size was increased to cover the park’s northern savannah areas, bringing the park’s total area to 188 km2. Many animals were also brought to the park, transforming it from a bird sanctuary to an animal park.
When the giraffes were transported to Lake Nakuru National Park from western Kenya for conservation and preservation in 1977, the park was granted the honor of being home to the highly rare and endangered Rothschild giraffes. The Kenyan government took this step to brag about its efforts to preserve wildlife in the East African country.
Rhinos were brought into Lake Nakuru National Park in the 1980s, following the Rothschild’s giraffes, as part of a Kenyan government campaign to save the endangered rhinos, whose numbers were rapidly dropping. It was the first of its sort in Kenya, and Lake Nakuru Park was proclaimed the country’s first government-protected rhino sanctuary in 1984.
In 1986, the Kenyan government created a 188 km2 electric fence around Nakuru National Park to protect rhinos from poachers. This barrier served and continues to serve the aim of keeping poachers out of Lake Nakuru park as well as keeping rhinos inside the park’s boundaries. With the successful completion of the 188 km2 electric fence, the Kenyan government designated Lake Nakuru Park as a rhino sanctuary in 1987.
Lake Nakuru National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it has been designated as an IBA since 2009 for the over 400 bird species that live there; Lake Nakuru was designated a RAMSAR site in 1990.
Lake Nakuru Park has evolved, grown, and developed greatly over the years in so many ways, making it a perfect destination for a safari not only to experience the park’s development but also to experience the bird life, wildlife, and extraordinary beauty of this unique park in central Kenya Nakuru town.
Lake Nakuru National Park is located in central Kenya, on the floor of the Great Rift Valley, NW of Nairobi. This national park is distinguished by forests and grasslands that serve as home for the many animal species that can be spotted during game watching excursions in Lake Nakuru national park. Kenya Wildlife Services oversees Lake Nakuru National Park, as well as other national parks and reserves in Kenya, and is in charge of animal conservation.
Lake Nakuru National Park is noted for its magnificent landscape and attractions like as Lake Nakuru and the rift valley escarpment. This national park’s terrain also includes high rocky escarpments, dense woods, and hills that serve as overlooks for wildlife viewing excursions. This national park is also ideally positioned a short distance from Nairobi, Kenya’s capital city. Lake Nakuru park is also adjacent to Hells Gate National Park and Naivasha National Park, making it worthwhile to visit. Soysambu Conservancy is also located on the national park’s southern border.
The Nderit gate, which is seldom utilized for access, Lanet gate, or the main entrance gate, which is located not far from Nakuru town, are among the entry gates in this national park. Tourists visiting Lake Nakuru park can pay park admission fees based on whether they are citizens, residents, or non-residents.
Mpesa, visa card, and direct transfers to the Kenya Wildlife Services bank account are all accepted forms of payment for park admission fees in Lake Nakuru National Park.
Activities in Lake Nakuru National Park
Tourists can participate in the following activities during their safaris to this destination:
Game drives are one way to explore Lake Nakuru National Park. These drives offer intimate encounters with animal species such as white rhinos, leopards, lions, giraffes, hippos, impalas, and waterbucks, among others. These wildlife drives take occur at various times of the day, providing distinct experiences on safaris at this location.
Another intriguing activity that may be done in Lake Nakuru National Park is bird viewing. This is due to the numerous bird species that may be spotted at the various birding areas across the national park.
Another activity that takes place at Lake Nakuru national park is hiking, which takes place while people explore the overlooks throughout the park.
Lake Nakuru National Park also contains other attractions, including the following:
Lake Nakuru is one of the national park’s most well-known features. This is due to the enormous quantity of flamingos that can be spotted around the lake’s shoreline. The lake is a small soda lake that draws flamingos as they graze on algae on its alkaline edges.
Numerous other bird species may also be spotted in this lake, making it a popular birding destination for both native and migratory birds.
There are two varieties of flamingos that may be seen at this lake: lesser and larger flamingos, which swarm the lake with their pink hue. These flamingos may be observed from several perspectives across the national park, including Baboon Cliff and Lion Hill.
Despite its tiny size in comparison to other national parks and reserves in Kenya, Lake Nakuru national park is home to a diverse range of wildlife species. Waterbucks, white rhinos, black rhinos in the forests, Rothschild giraffes, leopards, lions, and cheetahs are among the animal species that may be viewed.
Not far from Lake Nakuru is a fenced-in sanctuary where animals like as giraffes and rhinos may be observed. The barrier that surrounds the reserve keeps poachers at bay while also restricting wildlife mobility.
The greater and lesser flamingos, African fish eagle, goliath heron, hammer kops, pied kingfishers, eagles, white pelicans, Hottentot teals, starlings, black-winged lapwings, crab plovers, grey crowned cranes, and many more bird species may be spotted in Lake Nakuru national park.
Makalia waterfalls, located in the southern portion of Lake Nakuru National Park, is an excellent site for walks as well as picnics for tourists as they experience the lovely environment and surroundings in this area.
Viewpoints inside the national park give excellent vantage points for seeing the many animal species as well as other attractions within Lake Nakuru. Among the vistas are the baboon cliff and the Makalia cliff.
The Njoro River, Makalia River, and Enderit River all supply water to Lake Nakuru.
Lake Nakuru National Park may be reached by a variety of routes, including the following:
By road, Lake Nakuru National Park may be reached by driving from Nairobi to the park’s entry gates, such as the main gate near Nakuru town or the Lanet gate off the Nairobi-Nakuru highway.
Tourists can fly into Naishi airstrip, which is located in the southern portion of the national park.
Hotels in and around Lake Nakuru National Park are divided into three categories: luxury, midrange, and budget, as well as camping. Among the lodging options around this national park are Sarova lion hill lodge, Lake Nakuru Lodge, Lake Nakuru flamingo lodge, Merica hotel, Mbweha camp, Miali saba camp, Mirius guesthouse, and Hotel Waterbuck Nakuru.
Camping is also an option for tourists on their safaris, and some of the campsites in Lake Nakuru National Park include the following: Naishi campground, Rhino campsite, Soysambu campsite, Kambi nyuki campsite, Makalia campsite, and others. During a safari to Lake Nakuru national park, you may see gorgeous flamingos as well as a variety of animals while exploring its various attractions.