Lake nakuru national park
Lake Nakuru national park is an incredible tourist destination situated in the western region of Kenya, the park consists of Lake Nakuru which is a great attraction in the and where it derives its name. The park stretches through an area of 188 square kilometers which is dominated by a series of vegetation cover that is woodlands, grasslands and acacia forests which are home to many animals. Nakuru national park situated 170 kilometers northwest of Nairobi lies on the floor of the greater rift valley with a beautiful lake, the park is dominated by wooded and bushy grassland
History of Lake Nakuru national park
Lake Nakuru national park was started as a bird viewing and sort shooting area in 1950s for migratory birds, in 1957 the area originally used for bird viewing was declared a conservation area and in 1961 the southern area cover two thirds was designated a bird sanctuary. In 1964 the bird sanctuary was extended to cover lake Nakuru and small piece of land around it, in 1968 the whole area was gazetted as a national park and in 1977 a number of endangered Rothschild giraffes where translocated to Nakuru national park from western Kenya. For the protection of animals the park was fenced using an electric fence, in 1987 the park was declared a rhino sanctuary and in 2011 lake Nakuru was designated as on Kenya lakes system.
Attractions in Lake Nakuru
Lake Nakuru national park
Lake Nakuru is a great attraction in Nakuru national park, Lake Nakuru is a rift valley soda lake found in the south of the park. The lake is a great spot for bird viewing in the park as it is crowded by thousands of pink colored flamingoes.
Flamingoes
The park is a home to over 450 bird species, Nakuru national park is famous for hosting a high concentration of lesser and greater flamingoes recorded to be over millions in number. Flamingoes are seen around the shores of Nakuru which is a magnificent view perfect for photography, apart from lesser and great flamingos there is also other bird species in lake national park and they include resident bird species such as nyanza swift, grey wren-warbler, D’Arnaud’s barbet, bronze sunbird, jackson’s widowbird, the near-threatened grey-crested helmet-strike and many more. Migratory bird species such as endangered Madagascar pond-heron, as well as black-necked grebe, gull-billed tern, black-winged stilt and many more which are easily sighted in the park
Viewpoints
Lake Nakuru national park has numerous viewpoints where you get to enjoy the beauty of the park, view points in the park include
Baboon cliffs
Baboon cliffs is a popular viewpoint in Lake national park, this point offers perfect views of lake Nakuru and it is crowded by baboons which are seen as they are looking for food. While in the baboon cliff it is possible for the baboons to climb allover your vehicle.
Out of Africa Picnic site
Out of Africa picnic site is in the park is an amazing picnic site situated in the southwestern shores of Lake Nakuru, this site is surrounded by woodlands and offers panoramic views from the edge of a cliff. Out of Africa picnic site in Nakuru national park is a perfect site for bird watching, picnics, hiking and game drives in the park.
Lion hill
Lion hill is another amazing view point where you get to view many animals like elephants, lions, rhinos and many more
Makalia falls
Makalia falls is magnificent feature situated in the southern region of the park, Makalia falls lies along Makalia River which drains through Nakuru national park. The falls drop at 10 meters off of a sheer cliff and forms a large plunge pool, Makalia falls creates a scenic view and offers an amazing campsite in the park
Animals
The park is a great habitant for a high concentration of animals which live in the various territories of the park, these animals are also seen in big numbers at the shores of Lake Nakuru drinking water, at isolated watering holes and the grassland covered plains of the park. Animals hosted by the park include spotted hyenas, lions, white rhinos, Rothschild’s giraffes, hippopotamus, reedbucks, golden cats, impalas, buffaloes, waterbucks wild cats, bat-eared foxes, long-eared leaf-nosed bats, rock hyraxes and many more. In the acacia trees and forest galleries in lake national park host primates such as colobus monkeys and baboons.
Things to do in Lake Nakuru national park
Bird watching
Lake Nakuru national park is a paradise for bird lovers as it is a home to over 450 bird species, while in lake Nakuru national park for bird watch safari you get to encounter a variety of colorful bird species mostly the famous pink colored lesser and greater flamingoes. Birds in Nakuru national park include nyanza swift, grey wren-warbler, D’Arnaud’s barbet, bronze sunbird, Jackson’s widowbird, the near-threatened grey-crested helmet-strike, the endangered Madagascar pond-heron, as well as black-necked grebe, gull-billed tern, black-winged stilt and many more. These birds can also be viewed while on boat riding safari on Lake Nakuru, nature walks and game drive, they can also be viewed while at baboon cliff hill.
Game drive
Nakuru national park offers one of the most exciting game drive experiences in Kenya, the park has well demarcated trails which are used for game drives in the plains of the park where you get to spot a variety of animals from the open room of your car. Animals in Nakuru national park are spotted at around various watering holes, on the shores of Lake Nakuru and the savannah grassland and acacia dominated plains. As you drive in the park you get to spot animals like spotted hyenas, lions, white rhinos, Rothschild’s giraffes, hippopotamus, reedbucks, golden cats, impalas, buffaloes, waterbucks wild cats, bat-eared foxes, long-eared leaf-nosed bats, rock hyraxes and many more. Game drives in Nakuru national park are offered as morning game drive, afternoon and evening game drive.
Camping and picnic
Nakuru national park offers breathtaking camping and picnic adventures, camping in the park is an adventures to nature lovers as you get to enjoy the beautiful nature and lake filled with pink flamingoes. Camping in the park takes place in the area around Makalia falls, picnics in Nakuru national park are also great for nature lovers. Picnics takes place in out of Africa picnic site where you get incredible views of birds, Lake Nakuru and many animals.
Best time to get to Lake Nakuru national park
Nakuru national park is open to receive visitors on a daily basis throughout the year, since Nakuru national park is fenced meaning animals do not disperse too far with its roads in a good condition it is always a good time to visit for a safari even in wet season unlike other destinations/ national parks. But still the best time to visit Nakuru national park with no interruptions of rain it is the dry season period received in the months’ period of July to December.
How to get to Lake Nakuru
Nakuru national park is very accessible as it is situated on a drive of 3-4 hours North West of Nairobi city for a distance of 166 kilometers, the park can be reached by both road or air transport means. By road there is many public vehicle companies offering drives to the park, you can also chose to use private means of transport offered to you by your Kenya safari company using Nairobi-Nakuru highway. By air means of transport there is flights from jomo Kenyatta international airport to Naishi airstrip.
Where to stay in Nakuru national park
Nakuru national park is dotted with many accommodation facilities which offer both food and accommodation to tourists visiting the park for a safari, the accommodation facilities are owned by various institutions and they include KWS Self Catering, Naishi Guest House, Campsites, Back Packers, Makalia Campsite, Reedbuck Campsite, Naishi Campsite, Rhino Campsite, Chui Campsite, Soysambu Campsite, Kambi Nyuki Campsite, Kambi Nyati Campsite, Acacia Picnic Site, Pelican Picnic Site, Lake Nakuru lodge, Sarova Lion Hill Lodge and many more.
