Lake Nakuru National Park Kenya lies in the south of Nakuru in the rift valley region of Kenya, the park covers an area (188km², 73mi²), was established in 1961 around Lake Nakuru. Lake Nakuru national park is located in central Kenya, about 140km (90 miles) northwest of Nairobi, in the Nakuru district of the Rift Valley Province. Lake Nakuru National Park started as a bird viewing safari and sport shooting area of the migratory birds in the 1950’s but has been expanded and fenced, the park was established majorly to protect the large population flamingos, giraffes and both the black and white rhinos. In 1987 the park was declared as a rhino sanctuary.

Attractions in Lake Nakuru National Park.

Wildlife

Lake Nakuru national Park is an exception home for a variety of mammals including the big 5 animals of Kenya with an exception of the elephants, Lake Nakuru national park is a habitant of over 56 species of mammals, such as the Black and white rhinos, which also has its fair share of Cape buffalo, African wild dog, zebra, eland, waterbuck and many others, though of the recent year’s Lake Nakuru national park has attracted fame for the high number of the leopard sightings and the rare Rothschild’s giraffe. The park is recognized as one of the few safari destinations in Kenya hosting the endangered Rhino with the largest concentration.

Bird species.

Lake Nakuru national park is a birding safari destination in Kenya in that the park has got over 500 bird species recorded. The soda lake is a birding hotspot and supports a lot of the birdlife, where the large flocks of pelicans are included, also Lake Nakuru national park is one of the best places in Kenya to see the striking, long-tailed widowbird. There is a good variety of the raptors including Verreaux’s and long-crested eagle. Other bird species that can be spotted in Lake Nakuru national park includes the Abyssinian thrush, Bateleur, Black-tailed godwit, European roller, Crab-plover, Great snipe, White-fronted bee-eater, Sooty falcon, Pallid harrier and many others. The park has also got the Non endemic bird species that includes Grey-crested helmet-shrike.

Flamingos.

Lake Nakuru national park has got two flamingo species that is   the lesser and the greater flamingo, where the greater flamingos are taller and darker in colour their shade of pink well as the lesser flamingos are shorter and lighter in colour their shade of pink. Lake Nakuru is world-famous as the location of the greatest bird spectacle on earth-myriads of fuchsia pink flamingos whose numbers are legion, often more than a million or even two million. The guests are also attracted by the huge numbers of the flamingos in Lake Nakuru national park. Flamingos eat insect larvae and algae that gives them their pink hue. High water levels shrink the bird’s ideal breeding and feeding grounds.

Makalia falls.

Makalia falls are moderately small waterfall along the river Makalia which is one of the seasonal rivers that flows into Lake Nakuru. The water falls are located at the southern end of Lake Nakuru National Park, hidden some very unique but small rocks, the Makalia falls are fed by the Makalia river that rises in the south-west of the Mau Forest. Makalia River is a seasonal river but it’s the main source of water for Lake Nakuru together with other two rivers that are Njoro River and the Enderit River. All the three rivers rise from the Mau forest and flow into Lake Nakuru. Makalia falls are also great attraction in Lake Nakuru national park.

Lake Nakuru.

Lake Nakuru is A RAMSAR site the most impressive attraction in Lake Nakuru national park. Lake Nakuru, lake in west-central Kenya. It is one of the saline soda lakes of the lake system lying in the Great Rift Valley of the eastern Africa. Primarily known for its many species of the birds, including vast numbers of pink flamingos, Lake Nakuru also has waterbucks, impalas and the hippopotamuses.

Hills.

Lake Nakuru national park is made up of a rugged terrain which consists of hills, these hills include the Enasoit, honey moon, lion hill and many more as these are the best spots to enjoy views of the park and its attractions such as the wildlife and bird species. These hills are a greater attraction in the park.

Beautiful scenery.

Lake Nakuru national park is one of the most scenic destination among the popular national parks in Kenya, the park is a breathtaking scenery consists of a rift valley escarpment which rises up from the Lake Nakuru shore and dotted with a gallery of Euphorbia trees and Lake Nakuru which is dotted with yellow fever trees on its banks. The lake is always crowned by the millions of flamingos both the greater and the lesser which is a fascinating sight to witness, because of the beautiful scenery lake Nakuru national park offers amazing sites for photography and nature viewing.

Activities done in Lake Nakuru national park.

Game viewing.

Lake Nakuru National park has got a variety of animal species as well including the park’s rhino sanctuary, here the tourists can be able to view huge numbers of the animal species in the park. Lake Nakuru national park is fenced hence the animals will not run away at any one time so your chances of seeing almost all the species that live in the park can be high, the animal species to be sighted in the park includes the Buffalos, lions, rhinos, impalas, waterbucks, hippos, dik-dik, giraffes, zebras, leopards and many more. Game viewing safari is best done from January to March and July to December due to being dry months are the best recommendable since the routes are not muddy, and the grass in the park can be thin that allows easy spotting of the animal species at the same it’s the period when the wildlife gather at the water source.

Bird watching.

Lake Nakuru national park is a birding destination in that, the bird lovers who visit Lake Nakuru national park during their safari can spot various bird species, at the soda Lake Nakuru is a major birding hotspot and supports a lot of birdlife for example like the flocks of pelican, flamingos the park has got over 500 bird species and the park is also known as international bird area and a RAMSAR site, meaning it’s a certified bird hub so you will surely not miss bird watching in the park. The bird species in the park includes pelicans, African fish eagle, Egyptian geese and many more.

Photography.

The beauty of Lake Nakuru national park is perfect for pictures that makes it the most perfect safari destination for all picture activities; being for commercial use or for individual purposes this park gives you the most unique and beautiful sights for your pictures.

Hiking Makalia falls.

Hiking Makalia falls in Lake Nakuru National park is one of the best memory activities and though the hike is not actually strenuous, hiking gives you a run for your energy and adrenaline. This fall is located in the southern part of the park and it’s truly one of those hidden treasure. During your safari to the fall you enjoy the beautiful water, the breezy surrounding and the scenic view of the area and the neighboring areas, as well you can picnic at the falls to just enjoy the view or even take a hike up the cliff for an adventurous experience.

Lake Viewing.

Lake viewing is done in Lake Nakuru national park where the tourists can be able to view the numerous birds on the Lake Nakuru, while doing lake viewing you can as well enjoy the deep blue waters, appreciate the surrounding flora and the skies which gives the best memories to our tourists who visit the park.

Ridge viewpoints.

Ridge viewpoints, has extraordinary beautiful ridge viewpoints where you can picnic, lounge, spend a day vacation among many more. These viewpoints in Lake Nakuru national park are out of this world and the main viewpoints in the park includes Baboon cliff, Lion Hill and out of Africa as they always give the tourists the best moments in the park.

Camping.

Camping safari is the most exciting adventure that allows you to sleep under the sky in the wild to experience the nature of the wild at very first hand, thus Lake Nakuru national park is the top most camping safari  destination in Kenya, it gives campers more than just sleeping under the stars in tents, campers do enjoy the unique vegetation in the park, the semi-humid weather and if one is lucky they can get to see a few animal species up close Lake Nakuru national park has several camping sites that are spread in the northern, southern where campers can expect to enjoy cool weather in the night, magnificent views of the concentrated flamingos resembling a pink blanket covering the surface of Lake Nakuru national park and scenic views of the surrounding in the park.

Best time to visit Lake Nakuru national park.

Like any other popular tourism safari destination in Kenya, Lake Nakuru National park receives the tourists throughout the year, visiting Lake Nakuru national park for amazing is specifically in the dry season which is experienced in the months of June to March. The months of June, July August, October, November, December, January, February and March, these months receive little rainfall which makes it easy to see animals as they crowd the Lake Nakuru to drink water.

Where to stay in Lake Nakuru National Park.

Lake Nakuru National Park has got a quite number of accommodation facilities where the guests can stay during their Kenya safari in the park, the accommodation facilities are such amazing and comfortable that are ranked in to the Budget, Mid-range and the Luxury accommodations as includes the Lake Nakuru Lodge, Flamingo Hill Tented Camp, Ziwa Bush lodge, Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge, Lake Nakuru Flamingo lodge, Mbweha camp, Sarova lion hill camp, Empalos hotel Nakuru, sandal wood suites and many more.

Entry park fees of Lake Nakuru National park.

How to get to Lake Nakuru National Park.

Lake Nakuru National park can be accessed into two different ways that is the road and the air means of transport from Nairobi to the park.

By Road transport.

By the road it’s a tarmac road connection with Nairobi a distance of 156km North West of Nairobi on the main A104 road, the most commonly used route in the park is through the main gate.

By Air transport.

By air chartered flights are offered from Nairobi International airport and Wilson airport land at Naishi airstrip.