Nakuru National Park

Location & Size: On the floor of the Rift Valley in central Kenya; Covers 188km/sq

When to visit the park: All year round.

Climate: The ecosystem comprises of the lake, surrounded by mainly wooded and bushy grasslands. The climate is mainly warm and dry. The average temperature ranges from 20°C to 30°C.

Rainfall: From 200mm – 700 mm per annum distributed in two seasons: Long rains – March & April & short rains – Nov/ December.

Altitude: Lake Nakuru National Park is at an altitude of 4,000-5,767 feet above sea level.

Distance: 160 KM north-west of Kenya's Capital - Nairobi

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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. The park supports a wide ecological diversity with Flamingos (Greater and Lesser) and other water birds being the major attractions of the area. The ecosystem provides for about 56 different species of mammals including the white rhino and buffaloes and a variety of terrestrial birds numbering nearly 450 species.

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. (Thomson’s and Grant,s gazelle, the long-eared leaf-nosed bat, colobus monkey, rock hyrax, hippo, leopard, lion, rhino, waterbuck. Impala, striped hyena,bat-eared fox, wildcat, reedbuck, striped hyena,golden cat, black and 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.

Accommodation Facilities:

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