Fenced in its entirety, Lake Nakuru is quite lacking in wilderness character. But regardless, it has a special spot on the list of most people’s safari itineraries and there is a good reason for this. Flamingos and rhinos! For decades, the shallows of the lake after which it is named have been attracting million-strong aggregations of flamingos that come in the quest for the abundant algae that thrives in its warm waters. SPOILER ALERT, this density depends on the change in the water levels.
The good news is that even without flamingos, this smallish park is listed as a Ramsar wetland and an important bird area. It is a hotspot for remarkably varied and exciting avifauna, hosting impressive flocks of great white pelicans, the stars of a checklist that extends to 450 species. There is no better way of seeing most of them than by pursuing a 2-4 boat ride on its soda lake. It is usually planned for early morning when they are in their most active state. Don’t forget to tag along with your binoculars for good views of the striking long-tailed widowbird, as well as a variety of raptors such as long-crested eagles and Verreaux’s.
While Lake Nakuru’s environmental character has been altered a little following the inflow of freshwater, its population of both white and black rhinos is flourishing and is easily seen. Both were introduced here because it is relatively easy to monitor for poachers (it is fenced off). Of the two species, the larger and friendlier white rhino is usually abundant on the grassy lake floodplain. On the other hand, the smaller, crankier, and more secretive black rhino tends to stick to the thick acacia woodland south of the lake.
During your game drive in search of these species, you are also like to see the localized Rothschild’s giraffe, countless herds of Cape buffalo and groups of waterbuck, as well as small pride of lions and leopards. The tracks here are easy to navigate. By the end of your three hours game drive, you will have seen a lot.
To crown your stay here, our driver guide will take you for a picnic at Baboon Cliffs, a vantage point where you can admire the new shapes and colors of Lake Nakuru.