AAS04: LAKE NAKURU NATIONAL PARK

Lake Nakuru Park (1 day) - Departs daily at 09:00hrs

Lake Nakuru is one of the Rift Valley soda lakes. It lies to the south of Nakuru Town in the Rift Valley and is protected by a small Lake Nakuru National Park. The Lake Nakuru is world famous as the location of the greatest bird spectacle on earth - myriads of fuchsia pink flamingos whose numbers are legion, often more than a million - or even two million. The lake's abundance of algae attracts the vast quantity of the pink flamingos that famously lines the shore. Other birds also flourish in the area, as do warthogs, baboons and other large mammals. Black and White rhinos have also been introduced. Nakuru means "Dust or Dusty Place" in Masai language. Lake Nakuru National Park, close to Nakuru town, was established in 1961.

The number of flamingoes on the lake varies with water and food conditions and the best vantage point is from Baboon Cliff. Also of interest is an area of 188 km around the lake fenced off as a sanctuary to protect Rothschild giraffes and black rhinos. The Lake Nakuru National Park has recently been enlarged partly to provide the sanctuary for the black rhino. This undertaking has necessitated a fence - to keep out poachers rather than to restrict the movement of wildlife. The park now has more than 25 rhinos, one of the largest concentrations in the country, so the chances of spotting these survivors are good.

There are also a number of Rothschild's giraffe, again translocated for safety from western Kenya beginning in 1977. Waterbuck are very common and both the Kenyan species are found here. Among the predators are lion and leopard, the latter being seen much more frequently in recent times. The park also has large sized pythons that inhabit the dense woodlands, and can often be seen crossing the roads or dangling from trees.

Day 1: Drive through the breath-taking view of the Rift Valley, Mt. Longonot, Lake Naivasha, and Lake Elementaita and to Nakuru. Lake Nakuru (about 18 square meters) is the home of masses of flamingoes, and a large species of other birds can be seen here. In garden surroundings Water Buck, Reed Buck, Impala, Thomson's gazelle and Buffalo area also easily seen. Lunch is provided either in a lodge or a camp in the Park. After lunch the tour returns to Nairobi, arriving at about 18:00hrs.