Lake Nakuru National Park

Lake Nakuru National Park is world famous for its bird spectacle featuring over a million flamingoes, over 400 migratory bird species from around the world and large flotillas of pelicans. Two species of flamingoes exists in the lake Nakuru National Park- the lesser flamingo with deep red carmine bill and the greater flamingo with black tip. The flamingos feed on Blue green algae, created from their droppings mixing in the warm alkaline waters, and planktons.

The park has recently been enlarged by Kenya Wildlife Service partly to provide the sanctuary for the endangered black rhino. This undertaking has necessitated a fence – to keep out poachers rather than to restrict the movement of wildlife.

The park now has more than 25 rhinos, one of the largest concentrations in Kenya, so the chances of spotting these survivors are good. There are also a number of Rothschild’s giraffe, again trans-located for safety from Western Kenya beginning in 1977.

Waterbuck are very common and both the Kenyan 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 pythons that inhabit the dense woodlands, and can often be seen crossing the roads or dangling from trees.

The park has a tarmac road connection with Nairobi, a distance of 156 km North West of Nairobi on the main A104 road. The most commonly used route into the park is via the main gate, 4 km from Nakuru Town Centre. It is also possible to enter the park from the main Nairobi Nakuru road at Lanet Gate. The Nderit Gate is used by people accessing the park from Masai Mara or Elementaita.

The park has three gates, Main Gate and Lanet Gate that link the park with the Nairobi-Nakuru highway and the less used Nderit Gate.

Getting to the park:
There are several ways of getting into Lake Nakuru National Park. Driving to Lake Nakuru is number one option for many sightseers. One can fly to Lake Nakuru Naishi Airstrip.

Major Attractions in Lake Nakuru National Park:

 Lake Nakuru is the home to more than one million flamingoes. Fleets of Lesser and Greater Flamingoes line the shores of Lake Nakuru giving it a pinkish appearance. Apart from the flamingoes, the lake is home to other water birds including a variety of terrestrial birds numbering about 450 species in total.

 The park has 56 different species of mammals. They include the black and white rhinos, Rothschild’s giraffes, cape buffaloes, Deffassa waterbucks, Thomson’s and grant’s gazelles, impalas, lions, leopards, warthogs, olive baboons, black backed jackal, reedbucks, dik diks, elands

 There are a large number of reptiles which inhabit Lake Nakuru including the python and tortoise.

Facilities in Lake Nakuru National Park
Lake Nakuru National Park is served by two lodges and a number of bandas and campsites. The lodges in Lake Nakuru National Park are:

 Lake Nakuru lodge

 Sarova Lion Hill Lodge

Bandas in Lake Nakuru National Park are:
Naishi banda; Rhino banda; Chui banda; Reedbuck banda; KWS Isikon banda; Nyuki banda; Soysambu banda; Makalia Falls banda; KWS Guest House; WCK Education Centre & KWS Education Centre bandas.

Activities in the Park:
Lake Nakuru offers one a variety of activities. Besides game viewing, in Lake Nakuru there exists unrivalled bird watching experience, picnics and photography