LAKE NAKURU NATIONAL PARK
Lake Nakuru national park is one of the most popular and a premier park in Kenya. It is managed by Kenya Wildlife Service. Named after salty Lake Nakuru which is a shallow alkaline lake in the rift valley. Initially in the 1960’s, the park was a bird sanctuary before being upgraded to a national park in 1968. Lake Nakuru national park is located on the floor of the Great Rift Valley, 2km from Nakuru town and 140KM northwest of the Kenya’s capital Nairobi. The size is 188 sq.km.
Lake Nakuru national park terrain includes classical African wooded acacia, bushy grassland and cliffs which are home to mischievous monkeys and a perfect lookout spot. The shallow salty lake which is part of Kenya Lake System in the Great Rift Valley has been declared as world heritage site by UNESCO. When it comes to climate, Lake Nakuru national Park is classified as dry sub humid to semi arid and this means that it is not too wet or too hot. When it rains, it is mostly in the late afternoon.
The roads inside the park are well established and 2 wheel drive vehicles can easily drive inside the park apart from during the rainy season when 4×4 is recommended. There are three entrances to the park and they are the Main gate, Lanet gate and Nderit gate. Travelling to the park is mostly by road although there is the little used Naish airstrip inside the park.
What to see in Lake Nakuru National Park
As for the Flora and Fauna, Lake Nakuru national park has over 400 bird species making it a bird watchers paradise. In addition it is home to over 50 mammal species. When it comes to plant species, it has over 500. The park is famous for the flocks of the greater and lesser Flamingo that gather around the lake numbering around 2 million, which turns the lake pink. This has given the lake a nickname; the pink lake. Other avifauna to be seen include variety of water birds (Yellow-billed Pelicans, Marabou Storks, Hammerkops, Fish Eagles, etc.)
When it comes mammals most of the big game reside here apart from the elephant. It offers sanctuary to the endangered rhino and it has the largest population in Kenya. Another animal that is endangered and find residence in Lake Nakuru national park is the Rothschild giraffe. Other animals found in the park include African buffalos, zebras, impalas, olive baboons, vervet monkeys, waterbucks, hyenas, jackals, hippopotamus among many others. A bit hard to spot but available are lions, leopards, wild dogs, colobus monkeys and cheetahs. Pythons can also be encountered in the park and are often seen dangling on a tree or crossing the tracks. Its plant species include the biggest euphorbia forest in Africa, yellow acacia, shrubs etc. Other attractions include baboon cliff, lion hill and makalia water falls.
Lake Nakuru National Park entry fee
The fees have been reduced during this Corona pandemic period.
They are currently at
NON RESIDENTS USD
Adults – US$ 35
Non Resident child – US$ 20
EAST AFRICAN CITIZEN (Ksh)
Citizen Adults – Ksh. 800
Citizen Children – Ksh. 200
EAST AFRICAN RESIDENTS (Ksh)
Adult – Ksh 800
Children – Ksh 200
The park is open as from 6AM in the morning to 6PM in the evening.
Accommodation is plenty inside and outside the park and range from budget, Midrange to Luxury. Accommodations inside the park tend to cost slightly higher compared to the ones outside the park. The cost of accommodation shoots up during the peak season.
Park rules/code of conduct
- Respect the privacy of the wildlife, this is their habitat.
- Beware of the animals, they are wild and can be unpredictable.
- Don’t crowd the animals or make sudden noises or movements.
- Don’t feed the animals, it upsets their diet and leads to human dependence.
- Keep quiet, noise disturbs the wildlife and may antagonize your fellow visitors.
- Stay in your vehicle at all times, except at designated picnic or walking areas.
- Keep below the maximum speed limit (40 kph/25 mph).
- Never drive off-road, this severely damages the habitat.
- When viewing wildlife keep to a minimum distance of 20 meters and pull to the side of the road so as to allow others to pass.
- Leave no litter and never leave fires unattended or discard burning objects.
- Respect the cultural heritage of Kenya, never take pictures of the local people or their habitat without asking their permission, respect the cultural traditions of Kenya and always dress with decorum.
- Stay over or leave before dusk, visitors must vacate the Park between 6.00 p.m. – 6.00 a.m. unless they are camping overnight. Night game driving is not allowed.