Situated On the floor of the Great Rift Valley and surrounded by the wooded and bushy grassland, is the amazing Lake Nakuru National Park, where guests enjoy a wide range of diversity and several attractions that range from Lake Nakuru itself to the landscape and beautiful ridges. The park is a perfect destination for bird watching, hiking, picnic, and game drives.

The name Nakuru is derived from a local native Masai word that means “Dust or Dusty Place”. The park was established in 1961 when it started simply with only the lake being the flagship attraction as well as the adjacent mountainous environs, though it has from then been expanded to include a large part of the savannahs. The park is protected and managed by the Ramser Convention on wetlands.

Back in time, the early 1990s so the dramatic decline of mammals living in this park due to the unfavorable conditions by then, however, when it came to 2013, the lake resumed when it received a large number of water levels that led to the migration of flamingos to Lake Bogoria in search for food supply.

Also, the latest development in this park sees the expansion to create more space for the black rhino sanctuary, the act has necessitated a fence – to shield off the poachers rather than restrict the movement of wildlife. Lake Nakuru National Park is 12.1 km on the southeastern border with the Soysambu conservancy indicating likely possibility of the future expansion of the habitat for the rhinos and the only remaining wildlife corridor to Lake Naivasha.

The lake is identified for its abundant algae used to attract a wide variety of flamingos known for enjoying the shores. Also, you will find primates and large numbers of mammals.

The two types of flamingo species found in this destination include the lesser flamingo easily identified by its deep red carmine bill and pink plumage, they are commonly pictured in documentaries mainly because of their large population and exposure. 

In 2009 approximately 25 eastern black rhinoceros which translated to one of the largest concentrations in the country, and an estimate of 70 southern white rhinos, Waterbuck, Rothschild’s giraffe, arrived at this destination from western Kenya beginning in 1977.

 The Gem found in this park include among others lions, cheetahs and leopards, with a large population of reptiles such as pythons that live in the thick woodlands, and can be seen crossing from place heading to another.

Due to the recent variations between the dry and wet seasons’ water levels attributed to it is the increasing watershed land conversion to massive crop production and urbanization, which reduce the ability of soils to absorb water thus increasing seasonal flooding. Secondly the two, Pollution and drought destroy the flamingos’ food namely; Cyan bacteria, or blue-green algae, and making them migrate to the nearby Lakes such as lakes Elmenteita, Simba Nyaima, and Bogoria the Lake Nakuru National Park is one of the top tourist destinations in Africa, famed for the Flamingos, both lesser and greater, that flock to its shores to feed on the cyan bacteria that live in its alkaline waters. It is a very important breeding ground and stopover for many species of birds and has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

 Accessing  Lake Nakuru National Park is easy, all you will need is to choose either to fly or Use a road, the park is located in the central part of Kenya about 150 km (87 miles) north-west of Nairobi in the Rift Valley Province with the entrance located 4km (2.4miles) from Nakuru town.

One way to enjoy Lake Nakuru National Park is through the game drive that exposes you to variance wildlife mammals such as Lions, Rhinos and Rothschild giraffe among others, there are also birds and reptiles.

This is one of the few parks in Kenya where travelers have a chance of driving close to White Rhino and may even grab a shot of them with flocks of flamingos on the Lake in the background. It is a must-see for all birders as you witness the incredible two million Greater and Lesser Flamingos enjoying their Freedom in the Lake, other birds include the pelicans, herons, and storks.

The Park is one of the best places in Kenya to spot Leopards and Rhinos as well as the Big Five cats excluding Leopards, but you may just come across one lounging on a tree branch near Lake Nakuru.