Having been designated a UNESCO world heritage, Lake Nakuru also dubbed as the pink lake is one of the most visited parks in Kenya. Lying on the floor of the great rift valley, this salty water lake is the crown jewel of all lakes that lie in the valley.
Wildlife & Birds
The lake is well known for the large masses of birds that flock to its shores for breeding and feeding on the algae plantae. Flamingoes are the resident welcoming guest. They are in their millions during the high season and are supplemented by pelicans and marabou storks.
The lake also offers refuge to a huge number of black rhinos. Endangered white rhino is also found there which is a privileged sight at this point in our history. Other animals found in good numbers are buffaloes, baboons, gazelles but predators such as leopards, lions’ hyenas are rare but present.
Vegetation And Scenery
The park is a general flat line with where the lake sits, and parts of its shores are guarded by small hills and a number of valleys. The lake has a number of rivers that nourish its huge appetite of water, but they are not viewable on the safe side of the lake shores.
Generally the area around the shores has indigenous trees such as the acacia but as you extend outwards the park becomes more of a mixture of woodland and grassland. This makes for a perfect setting for game viewing
What to do
The most popular activities at the park are Camping and Game Viewing. There are certain established viewpoints where you can come of your vehicles and even have a picnic while viewing animals.
You can also view Makalia Falls . You can even establish a campsite at Makalia Falls Public Campsite
Getting there
There are no direct international flights to the park. The main airport is the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in the capital, Nairobi. The drive from Nairobi is about 156km (97miles). The road is tarred and generally in good condition although traffic congestion is an issue at different points of the drive. A mid morning drive is encouraged.
You can also access the park from the Eldoret international airport, with where you will take roughly 3 hours on a well tarred road.
Chartered light aircraft may land at Naishi airstrip.
Best time to visit.
There park is accessible all year round however during the rainy months usually April and May there roads may be too flooded for travel. There are no major animal migrations in this park. While the numbers of flamingoes have been on the decline, there is still a sufficiently high population to make your visit memorable.
Weather and Climate.
Being on the equator it is hot and humid, the temperatures are relatively the same all year round. There might be a change in weather in the wetter months of march to May, but the range remains between 23-27°C. (73.4°F to 80.6°F)
Safety and Health
The park is guarded by the park rangers and also the general police service. Visitors are however encouraged to be vigilant and take precaution especially inside the park. Human-animal interaction is dangerous.
- Do not startle or harass the animals
- Stay in your car at all times
- Keep your car windows rolled up at all times
Malaria vaccination is highly encouraged. Those intending to camp overnight should consider mosquito nets.
Accommodation
There are some lodges within the park. One that is popular is the Lake Nakuru Lodge which comes an added ability to view some of the animals from the comfort of your room.
There are a number of lodges and hotels just outside the park and in the town of Nakuru that can be cheaper and convenient. For those who wish to camp inside the park, there are a number of campsites that can be booked. The most popular being Reedbuck , Naishi , Rhino, Chui and Kambi Nyuki Campsites
