Lake Nakuru National Park.

Lake Nakuru National Park is located south of Nakuru in Kenya’s Rift Valley region. The park was set up in 1961 around Lake Nakuru and spreads over an area of 188 km2 (73 mi2).
Lake Nakuru national park is located in the Nakuru district of the Rift Valley Province in central Kenya, approximately 90 miles northwest of Nairobi. Today, the Lake Nakuru National Park is a totally different place to the 1950s when the park was initially opened for viewing the migratory birds and for sport shooting of the migratory birds. The park was mainly set up to protect the huge flamingo population, giraffes, and both black and white rhinoceros. In 1987 the park was declared a rhino sanctuary.

Lake Nakuru National Park attractions.

Animal species.

Lake Nakuru National Park boasts over 56 mammal species besides the elephants. These include black and white rhinos, Cape buffalo, African wild dog, zebra, eland, waterbuck, etc. The park has recently featured in a lot of leopard sightings in the local news. It is regarded as the only place in Kenya where one can still spot the rare Rhinos.

Bird species.

Lake Nakuru National Park is a home of many bird species that are over 500 species. The soda lake offers a great opportunity to go bird-watching and to have a close-up view of the world’s largest colony of pelicans. In fact it is through Lake Nakuru National Park that you can get to see the exquisite long-tailed widowbird in Kenya. The bird species include different kinds of eagles such as Verreaux’s and the long-crested eagle, Abyssinian thrush, Bateleur, Great snipe, Grey crowned crane, Kenya rufous sparrow, Long-tailed widowbird, Maccoa duck, Pallid harrier, Ruppell’s vulture, Speke’s weaver, Sooty falcon among others.

Flamingos.

Lake Nakuru National Park is known as a home of the beautiful flamingos. You can spot two types of flamingos here at Nakuru; these are the lesser and the greater flamingos. The greater flamingos are bigger and have a darker pink shade while the lesser ones are smaller and their pink shade is lighter. This lake is a well-known flock of flamingos to the rest of the world because of this lake. At times, the number could be even more than one or two million birds.
The enormous number of flamingos in Lake Nakuru national park is one of the charming things that attract animals there. These birds derive their pinkish colour from the insects and algae they feed on. When the water level is very high, the birds struggle to find good nesting and feeding areas.

Makalia falls.

Makia Falls is a small waterfall on the Makalia River that is one of the seasonal rivers flowing into Lake Nakuru. Makalia Falls are situated at the southern edge of Lake Nakuru National Park. They are very near a little but unusual rock formation The source of Makalia Falls is the Makalia River that originates from the south-west of the Mau Forest. Makalia River is a seasonal river but along with Njoro River and Enderit River, they are the main water sources for Lake Nakuru. The origin of all these three rivers, Mau forest, and their confluence with Lake Nakuru are known. Lake Nakuru national park is also a place with many fascinating attractions, Makalia Falls being one of them.

Activities to do in Lake Nakuru national park.

Game viewing.

Also animal species abounds Lake Nakuru National Park and therefore, besides the park’s rhino sanctuary, tourists here can be able to admire a very wide variety of animal species in the park. The animals being next-door neighbors in Lake Nakuru National Park which is fenced, they can’t run away, thus you have a good chance of seeing almost all of the species that live there. Some of the animals you might see in the park are buffalos, lions, rhinos, impalas, waterbucks, hippos, dik-dik, giraffes, zebras, leopards, and many more. The best times to go on a game viewing safari are from January to March and from July to December. These are the dry months and hence, the paths won’t be muddy and also the grass in the park won’t be too thick, so you can locate the animals easily. Besides, it is also the time when animals come to the water source.

Boat cruise.

While Lake Nakuru is world famous for its massive flamingo populations and then rhinos, t is important to clarify that boat cruise safaris that is newly introduced safari activity that is done on Lake Nakuru that offers you the incredible spotting of various beautiful and then colorful difference bird species across which offers you the unforgettable safari memories.

Bird watching.

When birdwatchers go on a safari to Lake Nakuru National Park, they can see many different kinds of birds. Lake Nakuru is such a wonderful place to spot an immense variety of bird species, undoubtedly large flocks of pelicans and flamingos. The park is home to more than 500 species of birds and has also been recognized as an international bird area and a RAMSAR site which means a bird area of global significance. You will definitely regret it if you don’t take this opportunity of bird watching in the park. Among the birds which can be sighted on a bird spotting safari in the park include pelicans, African fish eagles, Egyptian geese, and many more.

Photography.

There are many great opportunities for photography at Lake Nakuru National Park because of its natural beauty. Top photographers for organizations or just the creator, the park is an amazing spot, which provides the most beautiful and unique backgrounds for photo shoots.

Best time to visit Lake Nakuru national park.

Just like any other popular game reserve in Kenya, a Lake Nakuru National Park holiday attracts a good number of tourists throughout the year. The best time to say Lake Nakuru National Park for fantastic landscapes is during the dry season from June to March. In the months of June, July, August, October, November, December, January, February, and March, there are hardly any rains, so spotting animals going to Lake Nakuru for water is very easy.

Where to stay in Lake Nakuru National Park.

Lake Nakuru National Park has more than a handful of accommodation options where visitors can lodge during the stay in the park. The lodgings are such wonderful and spacious that are divided into 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, sandalwood suites, and many more.

How to get to Lake Nakuru National Park.

There are two different ways you can get to Lake Nakuru National Park; they are by road and by air from Nairobi.
By Road transport. By road, the park is accessible from Nairobi through a tarmac road 156 km north-west of Nairobi on the main A104 road. The main gate is the most popular entrance to the park.

By Air transport. Flying, you can reach Naishi airstrip through a charter flight from either Nairobi International Airport or Wilson Airport.