Nakuru National Park

Lake Nakuru is one of the Rift Valley soda lakes at an elevation of 1754 m above sea level. The park lies in Central Kenya, 140km north-west of Nairobi in Nakuru district of the Rift Valley Province. Nakuru means "Dust or Dusty Place" in the Maasai language. 

The lake's abundance of algae attracts the vast quantity of flamingos that famously line the shore. Otherbirds also flourish in the area, as do warthogs, baboons and other large mammals. Black and white rhinos also been introduced. Lake Nakuru National Park (188 km², 73 mi²), created in 1961 around Lake Nakuru, near Nakuru Town. It is best known for its thousands, sometimes millions of flamingos nesting along the shores. The surface of the shallow lake is often hardly recognizable due to the continually shifting mass of pink. The number of flamingoes on the lake varies with water and food conditions and the best vantage point is from Baboon Cliff. 

The 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 black rhinoceros, one of the largest concentrations in the country, plus around 70 white rhinos. 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, cheetah 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.As well as flamingos, there are myriad other bird species that inhabit the lake and the area surrounding it, such as African fish eagle, goliath heron,hamerkop, pied kingfisher and verreaux eagle. 

The flamingos feed on algae, created from their droppings mixing in the warm alkaline waters, and plankton. But flamingo are not the only avian attraction, also present are two large fish eating birds, pelicans and cormorants. Despite the tepid and alkaline waters, a diminutive fish, Tilapia grahami has flourished after being introduced in the early 1960s. The lake is rich in other birdlife. There are over 400 resident species on the lake and in the surrounding park. Thousands of both little grebes and white winged black terns are frequently seen as are stilts, avocets, ducks, and in the European winter the migrant waders.  

Lake Nakuru view from the room

Lion Hill Sarova Game Lodge


We stayed in Sarova Lion Hill Game Lodge that is nested along the Lion Hill overlooking the spectacular flamingo  pink rimmed lake Nakuru. Its location affords panoromic views of the Lake and the picturesque Lake Nakuru National Park. Sarova Lion Hill is cleverly laid out such  that most  rooms and sitting areas afford stunning views of the Lake and the park.  


The Lodge incorporates  natural landscaping with tall acacia trees, winding walkways and greens dotted with bird feeds. The Lodge is a natural heaven  for bird life and attracts over 50 species of birds among the 400 species that inhabit the park.   


The Lodge has 64 standards rooms and 3 suits, a main restaurant, bar and a swimming pool.  The entire lodge is surrounded by a 24 hour electric fence.

One need to be  ensure that the rooms doors are always closed if you are not around! It was fun to see how  couple of monkeys entered into  our room and robbed the items from the coffee service counter that was   near the door.