Lake
Nakuru National Park
Background Information
Lake Nakuru is a very shallow strongly alkaline lake 62
km2 in extent. It is set in a picturesque landscape of
surrounding woodland and grassland next to Nakuru town.
The landscape includes areas of marsh and grasslands alternating
with rocky cliffs and outcrops, stretches of acacia woodland
and rocky hillsides covered with a Euphorbia forest on
the eastern perimeter.
The lake catchment is bounded by Menengai crater to the
north, the Bahati hills to the north east, the lion hill
ranges to the east, eburu crater to the south and the
mau escarpment to the west. Three major rivers, the njoro,
makalia and enderit drain into the lake, together with
treated water from the town's sewage works and the outflow
from several springs along the shore.
Lake Nakuru was first gazetted as a bird sanctuary in
1960 and upgraded to National Park status in 1968. A northern
extension was added to the park in 1974 and the lake was
designated as a Ramsar site in 1990. The foundation of
the parks food chains is the cyanophyte spirulina platensis
which can support huge numbers of lesser flamingo.
Location:
Central Kenya, 140km north-west of Nairobi, in Nakuru
District of the Rift Valley Province. It covers an area
of 188 km2.
Climate:
Ranges from Cold, Hot and Humid, Hot and Dry. Annual rainfall
is 965mm
How To Get There
Roads:
The park has a tarmac road connection with Nairobi, a
distance of 156 km north west of Nairobi on the main A104
road. The most commonly used route into the park is via
the main gate, 4 km from Nakuru Town Centre. It is also
possible to enter the park from the main Nairobi Nakuru
road at Lanet Gate. The Nderit Gate is used by people
accessing the park from Masai Mara or Elementaita.
Airstrips:
The Naishi airstrip services the park for tourism and
KWS activities.
Park Roads:
The park has an adequate and well serviced motorable roads
that make most parts of the park accessible.
Park Gates:
The park has three gates, Main Gate and Lanet Gate that
link the park with the Nairobi-Nakuru highway and the
less used Nderit Gate.
Major Attractions
Flamingo (Greater and Lesser) and other water birds including
a variety of terrestrial birds numbering about 450 species
in total.
Mammals: 56 different species including white rhinos.
View-points: Lion hill, Baboon cliff and Out of Africa
Hills: Enasoit, Honeymoon, Lion hill ridge etc.
Waterfalls: Makalia
Unique vegetation: About 550 different plant species including
the unique and biggest euphorbia forest in Africa, Picturesque
landscape and yellow acacia woodlands.
Facilities
Lodges:
Lake Nakuru lodge & Sarova Lion Hill Lodge
Campsites:
Enjoro campsite.
Picnic sites:
Makalia Falls Enjoro River Mouth near the main gate, Baharini,
Acacia, Baboon Cliff, Out of Africa, Lion Hill Summit.
Activities Game viewing, bird watching
