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| Lake Nakuru National
Park - Basic Facts |
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Size:
188 sq kms
Province: Rift Valley
District: Nakuru
Geographical Location: Rift
Valley , 180kms north-west of Nairobi
Altitude: 1,753-2,073m
Bird Life in Lake Nakuru National
Park: One of the few parks established specifically
for the protection of birds, flamingo in particular. More
than 450 recorded bird species.
Visitor Facilities:
One lodge, one luxury camp, and three campsites.
Vegetation: The lake
is fringed by swamps and the surrounding areas support
a dry transitional savannah with dry forest occupying
the more elevated areas.
Fauna: Mammals include
the rare long-eared leaf-nosed bat, colobus, spring hare,
clawless otter, rock hyrax, hippo, leopard, waterbuck,
impala, Thompson's gazelle, striped hyena, hunting dog,
bat-eared fox, wild cat, and golden cat. Rothschild's
giraffe have been introduced.
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| General Information
on Lake Nakuru National Park |
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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
Town of Nakuru. 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.
Lake Nakuru offers one of the world's
most spectacular wildlife sights, that of brilliant pink
flamingos as far as the eye can see. When conditions are
right, between one and two million lesser and greater
flamingos feed around the shores of the shallow soda lake,
together with tens of thousands of other birds. The best
place to view the birds is from Baboon Cliff, where you
can look out over the dazzling fringe of pink around the
lake's shores.
But flamingos are not the only
birdlife found at Lake Nakuru, pelicans and cormorants
are also in abundance. In fact, Lake Nakuru boasts over
400 species of birds, some of the greatest variety in
the country.
The Park itself surrounds the Lake
entirely and has recently been expanded to provide a sanctuary
for black rhino. This step has required the erection of
a large fence around the perimetre of the park to prevent
poachers from entering the park.
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| How To
Get To Lake Nakuru National Park |
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| Nakuru town is roughly 170
kms north-west of Nairobi along the A104. Nakuru is
the fourth largest town in Kenya, and can be esily
accessed by bus from Nairobi and points in western
Kenya. Walking is not permitted in the park and leaving
ones vehicle is only permitted at select points (such
as by the lakeside or at the baboon cliffs), so a
vehicle is absolutely |
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necessary for visiting the
park. The most common point of access to the park
is via Main Gate located just 4 kms south of Nakuru
town centre. From Kenyatta Avenue, go down Moi Road
and turn left onto Stadium Road, and continue through
the suburbs to the park boundary and main gate.
Travellers approaching Nakuru from Nairobi can opt
to enter the park through Lanet Gate on the approach
to Nakuru town. The signposts from the A104 to Lanet
Gate are not good. Simply turn left at the only
sign mentioning Lanet Gate and then turn quickly
right onto a dirt road that runs parallel to the
A104 for 100 metres or so. This road will take you
directly to the Lanet entrance. Nderit
Gate, near Lake Nakuru Lodge on the eastern side
of the Lake, is also also seldom used though some
private vehicles and tour operators enter and exit
through this route. Access through Nderit Gate is
quickest for visitors arriving from Lake Elmenteita
or those coming from Masaai Mara via Mau Narok.
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| Lodging and Camping
in Lake Nakuru National Park |
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There are two lodges located
within the boundary of Lake Nakuru National Park.
Lake Nakuru Lodge, located in the south-east of
the park, has 136 beds and is a popular stop for
tour operators with their hungry visitors. They
offer an excellent buffet lunch service. The Sarova
Lion Hill Lodge, with 170 beds offers similar excellent
service and is located near the eastern
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'shore of the lake. New kid
on the block is the luxurious Mbweha Tented Camp,
a first of its kind in lake Nakuru.
There are five main areas to camp within Lake Nakuru
National Park. The Kampi Ya Nyuki Campsite is located
in the north-east of the park on a grassy clearing
beside a group of acacia trees. This site tends
to be used by camping safari tour operators. The
Kampi Ya Nyati Campsite is located near the Campi
Ya Nyuki site, but is considerably smaller and is
also used by camping safari groups.
The Backpacker's Campsite, located just inside the
main gate, is not at all secluded and is heavily
used by backpackers and groups without vehicles.
The two Makalia Campsites, located on both sides
of the Makalia Falls at the south end of the park
is far from the lake, and used the least often by
tour groups. There is a good water supply here as
well as pit toilet facilities. The Njoro Campsite,
located only 1 km from the Main Gate, is easily
accessible and popular with safari groups. There
are water facilities and toilets here as well.
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| Further Information
and Booking |
| AfriChoice operates
a wide range of carefully
designed tours and safaris to Lake Nakuru National Park
by providing transport and booking hotels for you. Our safari
consultants will always be at your assistance should you
need a tailor-made holiday to this unique destination. NB:
For more information regarding this topic, DO NOT hesitate
to contact us. |
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| Related
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