Lake Nakuru National Park

Talk of a sight of lengthy blue waters, beautifully colored by the pink of the spectacular flamingoes, lionesses napping on trees on the far side, and rocky escarpments and waterfalls on the other, and I will tell you what you are talking about – Lake Nakuru National Park. Ooh, and that is not all.

Located on the Great Rift Valley — 156 kilometers from Nairobi and just 4 kilometers from Nakuru — the park is home to a myriad of wildlife species including: Rothschild’s Giraffe – which is a rare species in Kenya, Black and White Rhino, Olive Baboon, Colobus Monkey, Vervet Monkey, Zebra, Hyena, Waterbuck, Buffalo, Jackal, Leopard, Cheetah, and Impala. Besides the Flamingos, other birds that live here include Pelicans, Kingfishers, Eagles, Cormorants, Ostriches, Storks among others.

The topography in the park is composed of rocky hills and escarpments, grasslands, and acacia woodlands. The climate is mild with temperatures ranging from 25°C to 28°C in the day, and falling to about 9°C at night.

Although the park is fenced so wildlife viewing is good all year, the best time to visit is during the dry season from June to February. The wet season of March to May is favorable for bird watching.

Other similar destinations include:

• Tsavo East National Park
• Tsavo West National Park
• Aberdare National Park
• Masai Mara National Park
• Samburu National Park
• Amboseli National Park