Lake Nakuru National Park

Kenya top flamingo Lake Nakuru with millions of these pink birds feeding from Lake Nakuru.
Park Overview
Lake Nakuru National Park, covering an area of 188 sq km was created in 1961 and opened to the public 1968 to specifically protect its huge flock of the lesser flamingos and provide sanctuary for the endangered species like the Rhinos. Situated around Lake Nakuru (one of the Rift Valley soda lakes) south of Nakuru Town, the park lies 157 km from Nairobi city, and is punctuated by a gentle undulating terrain with open bush and woodlands, typical of the dry rift valley vegetation. It is at an altitude of 4000-5780ft above sea level. This national park is home to thousands of lesser flamingos which paint the lake in a shifting mass of pink.

Beautiful Flamingos
Background
It started off small, only encompassing the famous lake and the surrounding mountainous vicinity. Now it has been extended to include a large part of the savannahs.
Attractions
Lake Nakuru National Park is perhaps the most beautiful scene in Kenya. The sight of thousands of flamingos together can be one of the most memorable scenes for any visitor to this national park. Visitors also get the opportunity to spot clawless otters and Hippos in the lake itself, buffaloes, black and white colobus monkeys in the forest, elands, steinbok, impala, chandler’s reedbuk, rock hyrax, klipspringer along the cliffs and escarpments. Among the predators are lion and leopard, the latter being seen much more frequently in recent times. The park (as 2009) has more than 25 black rhinoceros, one of the largest concentrations in the country, plus over 70 white rhinos. There are also a good number of the rare Rothschild’s giraffe, trans located for safety from western Kenya in 1977. Water buck are very dominant and both the Kenya species are found here. The park also has large sized pythons that inhabit the dense woodlands, and can often be seen crossing the roads or dangling from trees.

Bird Life
The park has a large reserve of around 300 bird species, which make it an ideal site of bird watchers. There are over 400 resident species on the lake and in the surrounding park. Thousands of both modest grebes and white winged black terns are regularly spotted as are stilts, avocets, ducks, and in the European winter the migrant waders. Present also is a bunch of Zebra. The lake is also rich in other birdlife. On Kenya Safaris, Bird watching in Lake Nakuru National Park deserves to be prioritized.
However, the number of Flamingos has been recently decreasing, possibly due to too much tourism, pollution resulting from industries waterworks nearby who dump waste into the waters as well as changes in water quality which makes the lake temporarily unfriendly.
Getting There
By road: Lake Nakuru National Park is well served with a good Nairobi-Nakuru highway and is only 21/2 hours by road from nairobi. Traveling by road is more rewarding since visitors are able to make stops at the various view points with awesome panoramic views into the floor of the Great Rift Valley.
By Air: Via Naishi Airstrip
Entry is by smartcard only. Cards can be obtained and loaded at the main gate

Lake Nakuru National Park visitors
Visiting Hours: Daily, 6:00am-7:00pm including pubic holidays.
Note: No entry is allowed on foot. Visitors will not be allowed entry after 6:15pm
Please Note: Walking around the park is not permitted unless you are at one of the gazetted view points which enable you to see the whole of the National Park from a great height, the view points are name Lion hill and Baboon cliff and are definitely worth climbing on a clear day to set the scene.
Best time to visit – All year throughout
Where to Stay
Naishi Guest House
Set amongst acacia trees with magnificent views of the park, accommodation is made up of the main house and a separate annex. The main house has 2 triple bedrooms with 1 double bed and 1 single bed, each while the annex has two single bedrooms, each with a single bed. The main house has a bathroom with WC whereas the annex has a shower and WC; there is an outside latrine, a furnished sitting room, an open-plan dinning area and a well equipped kitchen.
The lodges are among the finest Rift valley hotels and lodges. They include Sarova Lion Hill Lodge, Lake Nakuru lodge, K.W.S guesthouse, five campsites and two picnic sites at Makalia Falls, Flamingo Guesthouse and Njoro River mouth. For any adventurous person, this is not a destination that should be missed.