Lake Nakuru National Park 164Km from Nairobi, 2 hour drive from Nairobi city. It is dominated by a gentle undulating terrain with open bush and woodlands, typical of the dry rift valley vegetation. Twenty seven percent (27%) of the park is composed of the Lake Nakuru and covers 49,00ha. The park was declared a rhino sanctuary in 1983. The Rhino stocking programme which ensued received white rhinos from South Africa. Currently the sanctuary has approximately 45 black and 31 white rhinoceros. The lake is also designated as a RAMSAR site.
The lake also is inhabited by water mammals mainly hippopotamus and clawless otters while the terrestrial part of the park supports a large number of other African plain rnammals. The park is also a sanctuary of rhinoceros and the Rothschild’s Giraffe. The introduction of a species of salt-tolerant Tilapiagrahami (for mosquito control) opened the way for the colonisation of the lake by many species of fish eating birds (Cormorants, pelicans, hamrnercop, etc). The park has a large reserve of over 300 species of birds, which make it an ideal site of bird lovers.
Major Attraction / Physical Features in Lake Nakuru National Park
Flamingoes & Birds:- The Park is the home to over a million flamingoes. Fleets of Lesser and Greater Flamingoes line the shores of the lake giving it a pinkish appearance. Besides flamingoes, Nakuru is home to other water birds including a variety of terrestrial birds numbering about 450 species in total.
Mammals: 56 different species of mammals have been identified including 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,
View-points: Lion hill, Baboon cliff and Out of Africa provide vintage views of the lake and the surrounding National Park.
Hills: Lake Nakuru has several hills including Enasoit, Honeymoon and Lion hill.
Waterfalls: Makalia
Unique vegetation: About 550 different plant species have been identified. The park boasts of the largest Euphorbia cnadlebrum forest in Africa, Picturesque landscape and yellow acacia woodland.
Bahrain springs, the only permanent water source of Lake Nakuru Park.
Rivers Makhalia and Nderit are dry most of the time due to deforestation in Mau.
Reptiles: A large number of reptiles inhabits the parks including the python and tortoise.
The spectacular scenery of the Rift valley.
Hyrax Hill Acheological site & Museum: Hyrax Hill Archeological site has both Stone Age and neolithic exhibits. The sites date back 3000 years ago. Within the site is an ethnographic museum exhibiting artifacts of the inhabitants of Rift valley including the stone tools.
Menengai Crater: This is the highest point within Nakuru and from here you have panoramic views of Lakes Nakuru, Naivasha and Bogoria.