Lake Nakuru National Park
Lake Nakuru National Park also known as a “Beautiful bird Haven” is located in the West Central Kenya and it is one of the saline lakes of the lake system lying within the Great rift valley of Eastern Africa. This National Park is also strategically located at a short distance from Nairobi, Kenya’s Capital City. Also found close to Hells gate national park and Naivasha national park which makes it worth visiting. The park boosts of over 400 bird species including vast numbers of pink flamingoes, Abyssinian thrush, large flocks of pelicans, Bateleur, Arrow-marked babbler, and also mammals like waterbucks, impalas, warthogs, elands, lions, leopards, hippopotamus, giraffes, black and white rhinos, African wild dog, vervet monkeys, olive baboon, colobus monkeys and many more.
In 1968, Lake Nakuru was later declared a National Park and this was after the park area was expanded to include the Northern Savannah lands of the park totaling the area to 188sqkm. Later several animals were later introduced to diversify the park from not only being a birder’s haven but also an animal park.
Lake Nakuru is characterized by woodlands as well as grasslands which act as habitat for the different wildlife species which can be seen during game viewing experiences in Lake Nakuru national park. The Park has beautiful sceneries with attractions such as Lake Nakuru, the rift valley escarpment. The landscape of this National Park also consists of steep rocky escarpments, dense forests and also several hills which act as viewpoints during wildlife watching experiences in Lake Nakuru.
Activities in Lake Nakuru National Park
Lake Nakuru being one of the most beautiful parks and the nearest from Nairobi, it attracts several visitors and also offers a tremendous wealth of experience through the following activities.
Game Drives
Game drives in Lake Nakuru National Park enable visitors to get up close to the different Wildlife species in their Natural Habitat and they are done during different times of the day like morning, afternoon and also full day. The park supports a vast eco-system and the park contains a wide variety of habitats like flamingoes, rhinos and giraffes which are the easiest to spot.
Birding
This is one of the most interesting activities to do in Lake Nakuru due to the fact that it supports a wide variety of bird species from the native to the migrating bird species for example the greater and the lesser flamingoes that color the shores of Lake Nakuru pink, Bateleur, Arrow-marked babbler, Abyssinian thrush, large flocks of pelicans among others.
Hiking
Hiking can be done during a walking safari and it takes place as Tourists visit the viewpoints around the National Park for wildlife viewing and also picnics as they explore the beautiful scenery and the surrounding.
When to Visit
Lake Nakuru National Park is open all year round to Visitors which is not the same case to other National Parks in Kenya although the best time to visit Lake Nakuru is usually the dry season from July to December as well as January and February.
How to Get to Lake Nakuru National Park
Accessed using both Road and Air transport means.
By Road, it is about 1 hours’ drive from Nairobi using the Nairobi – Nakuru Highway with spectacular views of the Great Rift Valley.
By Air, Lake Nakuru accessed from either Jomo Kenyatta International Airport or Wilson Airport and it takes about 25 minutes and on arrival, you will land in Naishi Airstrip.
Lake Nakuru Entry Gates
This Park can be accessed through 3 gates which are;
Lanet and Nderit gates: These are located on the larger part of the park on the Eastern side.
Main Gate: This is located on the Northwestern side and is still accessible but due to the rise of the water level, it is not possible to make a full circuit in case you want to connect to the Eastern side.
Accommodations in Lake Nakuru National Park
Accommodations in Lake Nakuru National Park range from Luxury to Mid-Range to Budget and they include;
Luxury Accommodations
Sarova Lion Hill Game Lodge
Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge
Lake Nakuru Lodge
Flamingo Hill Tented Camp
Emani Luxury Condo
The Cliff Camp
Royal Green Garden Resort
Lakira Camp Lodge
Sarova woodlands Hotel and spa Nakuru
Apex Resort
Mid-Range Accommodations
Mbweha Safari Camp
Ziwa Bush Lodge
Maili Saba camp
Top cliff Lodge
Hotel Waterbuck
Lake Nakuru Flamingo Resort and Spa
Eagle Palace Hotel
The Mid-land Hotel
The Cascades Cabin Nakuru
Sandalwood suites Nakuru