Lake Nakuru National
Park is a shallow
alkaline lake that is about 60 square kilometers in size. It
is set in a picturesque landscape surrounded by woodlands and
grassland close 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.
Lake Nakuru is bordered 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.
Lake Nakuru is home to
thousands of pink flamigoes and pelicans. This exotic park
boasts of a rich concentration of wildlife including black and
white colobus monkeys and is also a Rhino sanctuary. Look for
temperamental black rhinos browsing in the bushes, and larger
white rhinos cropping grass along the lakeside. No where else
will get a photo of a rhino with a back drop of pink flamngos
sifting food from a shimmering lake. Nakuru means "Dust or Dusty Place" in Maasai
language. Lake Nakuru National Park, close to Nakuru town, was
established in 1961. 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.
Currently, the fenced Lake Nakuru National Park covers around
90 square miles. It has unusual but beautiful vegetation. The
forest vegetation is covered with Euphorbia, tall cactus like
trees and acacia woodland. The forest region is a host to over
400 migratory bird species from around the
world.
Back to
Kenya National Parks |
