Lake Nakuru national park was created in 1961 around Lake Nakuru and is located near Nakuru town in south western Kenya. The park is surrounded by wooded and bushy grasslands. There is Lake Nakuru within the park. Visitors can enjoy the wide ecological diversity and varied habitant that range from Lake Nakuru itself to the surrounding escarpment and picturesque ridges.
The park is ideal for bird watching, hiking, and picnic activities. The lake is the world’s famous location of greatest birds.
The park best known for its thousands, sometimes millions of flamingos nesting along the shores. The surface of the shallow lake if often hardly recognized due to the continuous shifting of pink flamingos. The number of flamingos reduced recently perhaps due to too much tourism.
The park entrance for Lake Nakuru national park for adults who are citizen is 860Kshs, residents 860Kshs and non-residents is 60usd and for a child who is a citizen 215Kshs, resident 215Kshs and non-resident is 35usd.You should visit lake Nakuru national park and enjoy the wide ecological diversity.
Nakuru means Dust or Dusty place. The park is best known for its thousands sometimes millions of flamingos nesting along the shores.
The surface of the shallow lake is often hardly recognizable due to the number of pink flamingos seen around. The number of flamingos on the lake varies with the water and food conditions available and the best advantage is from Baboon cliff. The national park is fenced off as sanctuary as a way of protecting giraffes and black, white Rhinos.
The park has recently enlarged the park through making sanctuary to provide a protected area for black rhinos. They are fenced so as to protect them from poachers. They have free movement but in the park. The park has more 25 Eastern Black Rhinos.
Lake Nakuru National park has 3 gates you can pass through to access the park. The 2 gates can be accessed via Nairobi- Nakuru highway and they are the Main gate, Nderit gate, and Lanet Gate. The Nderit gate is often used by tourists who are coming from destinations like Masai Mara national Reserve.
Attractions at Lake Nakuru National Park
Climate Weather
It is semi humid type of weather and this means the park is neither too hot nor too cold. However, the park experience both hot and cold. You expect some rains and sunshine. Therefore the weather and climatic conditions are good for visitors who are to come at the park at all time. This is one of the wonders of the park.
Scenery of the park
The park has beautiful scenery, natural terrain and good topographical landscape. Most visitors come to take pictures. The park also has wild life of over 50 mammals, flamingo and other birds of over 450 bird species. The Vegetation has Acacia woodlands, Bushy grasslands, Euphorbia forests and Marshes.
Activities to Do Lake Nakuru National Park
The activities are too many and they go beyond driving inside the park and sitting comfortably in the vehicle and enjoy the wonderful views of the park to camping in the wild ton enjoy the true African wilderness.
Bird watching
It is a home to over 450 bird species of hard that is famous for flamingo’s birds. The activity is the best for bird lovers since they will be amazed by the plenty of bird species that are found within the savannah grasslands and woodlands. They are also found on the shores of Lake Nakuru.
Birds are easily seen from the common view points that found in all corners of the place. The park is also known as RAMSER Site making it an important birding hub in Kenya and the whole world.
Birding is best-done in the dry season since the birds migrate in the rainy season. The best months are June to October and from December to March. Common birds on spot while on bird watching include; African eagle, grater flamingo, lesser flamingos, white necked bee, grater pelican birds.
Game Viewing
Not only is this park good for bird watching, you can come from game viewing which is done during dry season. The park has over 50 mammal species that are protected within the park.
Best months to do game viewing in Lake Nakuru national park is month of January to March and July to December since they are dry months and the routes are not muddy hence making movement easy.
The animals to see during game viewing include Rothschild’s Giraffe, impala, black and white Rhinos, Hippos. They are kept in protected sanctuary inside the park.
Hiking Makaila Falls
The Makaila falls are fed by Makaila River that rises in south west of the Mau forest. The river is a seasonal river but it is the main source of water from Lake Nakuru together with other rivers that are Njoro River and Nderit River. There are times you will find river has large dive water pool below it where the falls pour into the height of 10m off the cliff.
Makaila falls are spectacular for viewing just watching the water from the cliff. You can do hiking on the trail, picnicking near falls and also game viewing.
Camping Activity
The park provides the best opportunity for camping. The bushy vegetation gives you the best experience as you place your tent under the sky. The weather in Lake Nakuru national park is not so cold and not so hot but the temperature is average hence making it moderate temperature.
This makes the camping experience as amazing as you enjoy the fresh lake breeze. The park has operating camping sites that spread in the northern and southern parts of Lake Nakuru national park.
The camp sites include; Rhino campsite, Nakuru Tented camp, Enjoro Campsite, Flamingo Tented camp, Makaila Falls campsite. Mbweha camp site you can expect a cool weather in the night and a clear beautiful sky in the night as well.
Picnicking In Lake Nakuru National Park
This is done at any time of the day throughout the year. It is more adventurous in the dry season because of rains which become a problem and interrupt the fun. The months suitable for picnic include; June, July, September, October, January and February.
While on top of the park ground you will be able to see and enjoy the delight view of the park. You will also be able to see birds, wild life and the entire park surrounding. The picnic sites include Baboon cliffs and Lion Cliff.
Photography
The national park offers the best spots for good photos moments which produces wonderful pictures for you. You can come and take pictures for commercial advertisement purposes and personal consumption. The park will give you a beautiful background for your pictures. You can come and enjoy the beauty of Lake Nakuru national park by capturing good pictures moments using your camera.
You should add visiting Lake Nakuru National park on top of your travel bucket list. If you would us to plan your Safari trip to Kenya, please contact us on our website.
