Lake Nakuru National Park

Lake Nakuru national park is considered one of the most popular parks in Kenya and a mega hotspot for wildlife lovers and offers a high chance of spotting both black and white rhinos. The park was created in 1961 around lake Nakuru near Nakuru town. This national park is the secondly visited in Kenya after Amboselli and receives more than 300,000 visitors every year. The lake’s abundance of algae is used to attract flamingos lining the lakeshore as well as other birds.

There are two types of flamingo species that is the lesser flamingo distinguished by its deep red carmine bill and pink plumage, unlike the greater flamingo which is characterized by a bill with a black tip. Lesser flamingos are the ones commonly documented because they are large in number. However, flamingo numbers have gradually decreased in number due to too much tourism, pollution resulting from the nearby industries that dump industrial waste into the lake, and also a change in water quality which makes the lake temporarily inhospitable.

The lake usually recedes during the dry season and floods during the wet season. Recent media reports though indicate increasing concern among stakeholders as mass flamingo migrations and deaths could spell doom to the tourism industry. It is strategically located and one of the easiest parks to visit.

Wildlife Adventure in Kenya

Wildlife in Lake Nakuru National Park

At the pelican point on the western shore, it provides good chances for spotting flamingos. The shores and surrounding woodlands are home to more than 400 bird species and a good number of mammals can be found here as well. Birds include Long-tailed widow birds, African Fish eagles, Montane White-eye, Slender-billed greenbul, Red-capped larks, and Northern Puffback among others.

In 1990, several black rhinos were relocated from Solio game reserve, and in 1994, 10 white rhinos were donated by South Africa to the park now the park boasts 60 black rhinos and 4o white rhinos and is considered one of the highest rhino concentrations in the country.

Other wildlife like dik-dik, impalas, jackals, warthog, elands, Thomson, and Grants gazelle can be spotted. Dense woodland in the southwest and cliffs are a favorite habitat for large pythons as well. Lake Nakuru National Park is known as the best hub to spot flamingos. Flamingos feed on algae created from their droppings mixing in warm alkaline waters. The park has been enlarged partly to provide a sanctuary for black rhinos and this had made the management put a fence around it to protect the area from poachers as well as animal movement.

Tourists on a trip to Lake Nakuru national park can choose accommodation from a wide variety ranging from luxury, midrange, and exclusive as well as budget depending on their choice.

Where to Stay in Lake Nakuru National Park?

These accommodation options include the following;

Flamingo Hill Tented Camp
Lake Nakuru Lodge
Mbweha Camp
Lake Nakuru Flamingo Lodge
Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge

Wildlife Adventure in Kenya

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Mbweha camp

This is located in Soysambu conservancy and close to the Southern part of Lake Nakuru national park. It provides beautiful views of the lake as well as the national park and some of the volcanoes in the great rift valley for example Ol Doinyo and Mau ranges.

Flamingo hill tented camp

This comprises 25 tents and is well equipped with many facilities such as a private verandah and four poster beds among others. It is located within the park in the great rift valley. It has well-trained staff and is very hospitable as well so come and feel the presence of nature with us at flamingo hill tented camp with the first class services in the wilderness.

Lake Nakuru flamingo lodge

This lodge has restaurant conference rooms and business center facilities and is located in Nakuru county.

How to Get to Lake Nakuru National Park?

By road

Lake Nakuru national park is located 166kms North West of Nairobi so tourists coming from Nairobi will access the park via the Nairobi-Nakuru highway on a 3-4hours drive.

By air

Lake Nakuru National park can be accessed by air by flying from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport(JKIA) to Naishi airstrip which is located inside the park.