Lake Nakuru National Park

Lake Nakuru National Park is a true guardian of African wildlife. Despite its small size, the park is home to an array of fauna and flora.

It is a paradise for bird lovers, home to many endangered species and one of the best places in Kenya to see rhinos.

The park is stunning. It’s as if all of the colours of Africa converge here to form a magically colourful kaleidoscope. Depending on the season, the large colonies of flamingos and pelicans colour the alkaline lake pink and white.

At the same time, zebras, buffaloes, and rhinos graze along the green lakeside dotted by yellow fever acacia trees. But the park is not just a wonder of colours.

Lake Nakuru is a crucial part of an extensive network of aquatic habitats. It is one of the three lakes comprising the Kenyan Lakes System in the Rift Valley.

Lake Nakuru, Elementaita and Bogoria are vital habitats for multiple species and have been awarded UNESCO World Heritage Status.

Flamingos at Lake Nakuru

Lake Nakuru alone is home to over 450 bird species, which is why it was initially designated as a protected bird sanctuary before becoming a national park. One specific bird species flocks here in the thousands:

The lake’s high salinity creates the ideal environment for green algae (and crustaceans), the primary food source for the Lesser flamingos, which gives them their iconic pink feathers.

Keep your camera ready, as you might witness thousands of these birds moving across the lake in a mesmerising synchronised dance or suddenly taking flight.

However, these birds, along with other lake inhabitants, have been impacted by a changing environment.

Since 2010, the lake has increased in size by 28 km² (11 mi²), reducing salinity levels and thus affecting the growth of green algae.

Therefore, the number of flamingos at any given time varies according to the water level and the resulting salt concentration of the lake.

The best time to see them is during the five-month dry season from June to October, when the high salinity caused by intense evaporation promotes algae growth.

Wildlife of Nakuru National Park – which animals can you see?

The park is famous for harbouring three endangered species: Rothschild’s giraffe, Eastern black rhino, and Southern white rhino, all protected from extinction.

Between the 1970s and 1990s, the number of Kenyan rhinos significantly declined due to poaching. Thankfully, Kenyan authorities responded, and in 1987, a Rhino Sanctuary was established to protect the rhino.

At its opening, 17 rhinos were brought to the park for protection. They joined two other rhinos introduced in 1984, bringing the total number of rhinos to 19.

Today, the Rhino Sanctuary is home to a thriving population of ~100 Eastern Black and Southern White Rhinos, making it a true success story in wildlife conservation.

Lake Nakuru National Park is also home to large buffalo herds, waterbucks, hippos and various gazelle species.

The yellow-fever acacia forests are an ideal hunting ground for leopards. Meanwhile, the lions prefer to seek out their prey in the short grass savannah in the park’s northern section.