Lake Nakuru National Reserve, Kenya

1 September 2007

Back to Travel Blog

After two nights in Samburu the plan had been to drive along the Lerochi Plateau to Lake Baringo but given the recent weather and the general poorness of the roads on that stretch, my driver decided we would reverse the schedule so we headed off on an eight-hour drive to Lake Nukuru.

The main feature of Lake Nakuru is the nearly two million flamingoes (both Lesser and Greater) which have made it their home, and my driver was very bemused to see me standing in gentle rain with my camera on a tripod taking countless pictures. Though the light was very poor a good time was very much had.

One of the standard features of all the driving was that we would stop around oneish for the cook to make us lunch. And the only such places to stop were of course surrounded by touts and little shops selling curios. So of course the Mzungu (foreigner in Swahili) was incessantly if politely invited to enter every shop to be seen.

Here is what the guide book says about Lake Nakuru:

This small park (180 sq km) is home to warthogs, waterbuck, buffaloes, reedbucks, and the occasional leopard. White and black rhinos were introduced to the park some years ago and you will find white rhino at the southern end. The park has also retained its reputation as an ornithologists’ delight with more than 400 species of birds found here.< I>

(show this location in Google Maps)