Lake Nakuru National Park – The Finest Bird-watching Stage on Earth! By Solomon Okila At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

About Lake Nakuru National park

Lake Nakuru National park is flamingo land. It is home to a huge number of lesser flamingos. At any given time, every flamingo in the world seems to be at this beautiful shallow alkaline lake, just south of Nakuru town. The lake is a spectacular ocean of pink surrounded by forest and plains that are home other wildlife too.

With a total area size of 368 square kilometers and home to more than 450 different kinds of birds, Lake Nakuru National park is one of the finest ornithological sights in the world. The lake is world famous as the location of the greatest bird spectacle on earth.

Myriads of pink flamingoes whose numbers are legion, often more than a million, maybe two, find solace at the lake. They feed on the abundant algae, which thrives in the warm waters. In fact, scientists reckon that the flamingo population at Nakuru consumes about 250,000 kilos of algae per hectare of surface area per year.

This park was established and opened to visitors in 1968, the first place in Africa to be designated a National Park, primarily because of the birds. Lake Nakuru itself has a comparatively low concentration of salts - compared to the other 'real' soda lakes- and it also supports a fish population.

Other birds to see at Lake Nakuru National park

Besides the Lesser Flamingos and Greater Flamingo, it is also marvelous place to other different types of birds. It has a wide range of waders including Avocet, while large rafts of Pelican can also be seen sweeping the water in unison - a rather attractive pelican version of synchronized swimming!

Other African Wildlife and mammals found in Lake Nakuru

And besides the birds, Lake Nakuru National park provides a home for a wide variety of other forms of African wildlife. Conservationists' efforts to save some of the world’s endangered species of mammals take place here too. A superb example of conservation at work in the wild, Lake Nakuru National park, with the assistance of the World Wildlife Fund, is now providing sanctuary for Rothschild Giraffe, Black and White Rhino. The elusive Leopard can also be found at Lake Nakuru, living in perfect harmony with the largely aquatic landscape.

Other wildlife that can be easily observed at the lake includes the buffalo, lion, black and white Colobus monkey in the forest. You will also see Eland, steinbok, impala, Chandler's reedbuck, and dikdik in the bush land.

Probably the best view of the lake is from Baboon Cliffs, the view alone is worth the drive but the road up to the cliffs also provides a chance to see rock hyrax and klipspringers. Watch out for the baboons at the top, they'll grab anything they think might be edible.

Getting to Lake Nakuru National park

The Lake, located on the edge of the town of Nakuru lies about 160 kilometers north of Nairobi. The road is paved and the driving time will be 3 hours utmost. This proximity Nairobi means that visitors who not have so much time can visit the park as a day trip excursion and return to Nairobi on the same day. Visitors on a shoestring budget can also visit the park and return to Nairobi without having to worry about accommodation.

This visit can easily be done either on a self-drive basis for those who know where way around Kenya in general and the park in particular. Or you can contact a local tour operator to facilitate your visit.

However, if you have more time and you want to incorporate Lake Nakuru as part of your larger itinerary, it cans still fit into any Kenya Safari program. It can easily blend into any itinerary coming from or going to Samburu, Maasai Mara or even Lake Baringo and Lake Bogoria region. Being a relatively small park, 1 night will normally be sufficient. Some people may however have a 2-night stop over to indulge.

The best time to visit Lake Nakuru National park

Generally, Lake Nakuru National park can be visited any time of the year, especially for general wildlife viewing. But for those who want the best flamingo show, the best time would be between March and May.

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