It has been a while since I did a wildlife safari post, so this week we head to the Lake Nakuru National park. I cannot remember the last time I visited the park, but thanks to the Kenya Wildlife Service I was able to obtain some photos for this post.

Lake Nakuru National Park is situated approximately 164 kilometers from Nairobi (the capital of Kenya). It is dominated by a gentle undulating terrain with open bush and woodlands. A third of the park is composed of the Lake Nakuru waters.

Panoramic view of Lake Nakuru from Baboon cliffPanoramic view of Lake Nakuru from Baboon cliff image source Get in travel.

 

The landscape also includes rocky cliffs and outcrops, stretches of acacia woodland and rocky hillsides.

Lake Nakuru National Park landscape includes rocky cliffs and outcrops, stretches of acacia woodland and rocky hillsides.Photo courtesy of Harold Schueltz / KWS

 

Lake Nakuru National Park_Makalia fallsMakalia falls Photo courtesy of KWS.

 

The Makalia falls are an integral site in the Lake Nakuru National ParkMakalia falls Photo courtesy of KWS.

 

The park is a perfect one-day safari. Within a short area, you can find all the big animals (except elephants), and see them up close because the park is relatively small and they hang out near the road that circles the lake.

Lake Nakuru National Park_buffaloPhoto courtesy of KWS.

 

Herds of Buffalo's are common in the Lake Nakuru National ParkPhoto courtesy of Harold Schueltz / KWS

 

A Baboon perched in the famous Baboon cliff in the Lake Nakuru National ParkA Baboon perched in the famous Baboon cliff Photo courtesy of Harold Schueltz / KWS

 

Lake Nakuru National Park_baboonsPhoto courtesy of KWS.

 

Lake Nakuru National Park_zebraPhoto courtesy of Harold Schueltz / KWS

 

A pair of Water bucks in the Lake Nakuru National ParkA pair of Water bucks Photo courtesy of Harold Schueltz / KWS

 

Lake Nakuru National Park_porcupineA Porcupine Photo courtesy of Harold Schueltz / KWS

 

The park has the largest population of rhinos in Kenya. The park has recently been enlarged partly to provide a sanctuary for the rhino.  A fence has also been built to keep out poachers.

Rhino grazing in the Lake Nakuru National ParkPhoto courtesy of KWS.

 

Lake Nakuru National Park_rhino2Photo courtesy of KWS.

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Rhinos grazing in the Lake Nakuru National ParkPhoto courtesy of KWS.

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Rhinos grazing in the Lake Nakuru National ParkPhoto courtesy of KWS.

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Lake Nakuru National Park has the largest population of rhinos in KenyaPhoto courtesy of Harold Schueltz / KWS

Sadly, recent years have seen an alarming rise in rhino poaching. Despite the gallant efforts of rangers putting their life in line for the rhinos, the park still lost nine rhinos in 2012. In the same year, South Africa lost more than 650 rhinos to poachers.

 

Lions seem fairly easy to spot

Close up shot of a lioness in the Lake Nakuru National ParkPhoto courtesy of KWS.

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Lioness taking a nap in the Lake Nakuru National ParkPhoto courtesy of KWS.

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Lioness taking a nap in the Lake Nakuru National Park‘Chillin’ Photo courtesy of KWS.

 

Lioness and cub in the Lake Nakuru National ParkPhoto courtesy of KWS.

 

Lioness and cub in the Lake Nakuru National ParkPhoto courtesy of KWS.

 

A pride of Lions in the Lake Nakuru National ParkPhoto courtesy of Harold Schueltz / KWS

 

An array of reptiles too can be spotted in the park

An array of reptiles too can be spotted in the Lake Nakuru National ParkChameleon Photo courtesy of Harold Schueltz / KWS

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An array of reptiles too can be spotted in the Lake Nakuru National ParkPhoto courtesy of Harold Schueltz / KWS

 

Lake Nakuru National Park_tortoisePhoto courtesy of Harold Schueltz / KWS

 

An array of reptiles too can be spotted in the Lake Nakuru National ParkPhoto courtesy of Harold Schueltz / KWS

 

Lake Nakuru is legendary for its birdlife, over 450 recorded species!

Cormorants in the shore of Lake NakuruCormorants Photo courtesy of KWS.

 

Egyptian geese taking a stroll in the Lake Nakuru National ParkEgyptian geese taking a stroll Photo courtesy of KWS.

 

Lake Nakuru National Park_StorkPhoto courtesy of KWS.

 

Lake Nakuru National Park_pelicans2Photo courtesy of Harold Schueltz / KWS

 

Lake Nakuru has a huge concentration of PelicansThe Lake has a huge concentration of Pelicans Photo courtesy of KWS.

 

A Crown Crane on the shores of Lake NakuruA Crown Crane Photo courtesy of Harold Schueltz / KWS

 

Lake Nakuru National Park_hawkPhoto courtesy of Harold Schueltz / KWS

 

A hornbill perched on a tree in the Lake Nakuru National ParkA hornbill Photo courtesy of Harold Schueltz / KWS

 

Lake Nakuru National Park_small bird Photo courtesy of Harold Schueltz / KWS

 

Crow and Stork perched on a tree in the Lake Nakuru National Park Crow and Stork perched on a tree Photo courtesy of Harold Schueltz / KWS

 

Tawny Eagle in the Lake Nakuru National ParkTawny Eagle Photo courtesy of Harold Schueltz / KWS

 

Lake Nakuru National Park_vulturesVulture Photo courtesy of Harold Schueltz / KWS

 

Lake Nakuru National Park is best known for its flamingos, which during the peak number over one million. The flamingos are attracted by an abundance of algae cyanophyte spirulina platensis found in the lake.

Lake Nakuru National Park_flamingosPhoto courtesy of KWS.

 

A hippo in the mud shores of Lake Nakuru Photo courtesy of Harold Schueltz / KWS

 

endless pink blanket of feathers that greets you at the Lake Nakuru National ParkFew words can actually describe the awe-inspiring vision of a seemingly endless pink blanket of feathers that greets you at the Lake Nakuru National Park.  Photo courtesy of Meiguoxing blog.

 

A spectacular sunset over Lake Nakuru in the Lake Nakuru National ParkA spectacular sunset over Lake Nakuru. Image courtesy of Get in travel.

The number of flamingos however depends on the season, during the rains the water levels rise and the lake loses its alkalinity hence a drastic reduction in the number of flamingos.

Lake Nakuru is a place I would highly recommend, a unique fauna and landscape, hundreds of bird species and one of the best places in the world to view the endangered rhino. The park has much fewer visitors than the Maasai Mara, which means there are instances where you have the place pretty much to yourself.

I would like to thank the folks at KWS who gave me permission to use their photos.

For more information about the park see here.

This week I will be linking up with;

1. Chasing the Donkey’s #SundayTraveler.

2. Noel Morata’s  Travel Photo Mondays.

3. Nancie’s Budget Travelers Sandbox Travel Photo Thursday.

Be sure to head there and check them out.

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Why I love Watamu

29 Comments

  1. February 10, 2014 at 11:32 am — Reply

    Amazing photos 🙂

  2. February 10, 2014 at 4:12 pm — Reply

    Wow! The waterfalls at the beginning and the animals, wow. Thanks for sharing these photos. Now I want to visit Lake Nakuru National Park!

  3. February 10, 2014 at 11:18 pm — Reply

    Oh so many stunning photos! The ones with the zebras, and the antlers of the waterbucks, the pelicans and flamingos are my most favorites. Hope the fence is intimidating and high enough to keep out the poachers!

  4. February 11, 2014 at 1:28 am — Reply

    Great post and amazing photos. Africa is definitely high up on our list for travel in the next couple of years. This looks like an amazing place…thanks for sharing! Glad to have connected via #SundayTraveler – safe travels!

  5. February 11, 2014 at 6:09 am — Reply

    That Tawny Eagle is the most beautiful creature! OMG I had never heard of this specific eagle until just now. I can not believe all of the colors from the feathers to the beak. I was reading some stories on the rhino poaching and it became so horrifying and sickening that I stopped before finishing it. That picture of the water buffalo made me smile because when I was little boy and we would be out in the desert exploring he would say, pointing to the mountains, “The great water buffalo are going to come thundering over those mountains any minute.” Once again I felt like I was there with you, Rachel! 🙂

  6. February 11, 2014 at 2:35 pm — Reply

    What a cool place! I’d love to get that close to the rhinos.

  7. February 11, 2014 at 4:09 pm — Reply

    Thanks so much for linking up to the #SundayTraveler this week. What a great set of photos _ i hope the zoom was on for those rhinos…

  8. February 11, 2014 at 4:27 pm — Reply

    Wow – what an adventure! Superb photos you’ve found too.

  9. February 11, 2014 at 4:57 pm — Reply

    Amazing photos Rachel! You are truly a wonderful photographer, you captured some great moments. I can’t get over the amount of flamingos, I personally don’t like them too much (the smell) but wow! Wonderful pictures as always and everytime I look at one of your posts it makes me want to visit Kenya ASAP!

  10. February 11, 2014 at 6:00 pm — Reply

    These photos are amazing – especially the one of the zebras in the field and the lions! Lake Nakuru definitely looks like a great safari spot that I’d love to visit!

  11. February 11, 2014 at 6:54 pm — Reply

    That mass of flamingoes is the most amazing…I love all the photos and I love safaris…maybe it’s almost time for another one!

  12. February 11, 2014 at 7:43 pm — Reply

    Wow, I was going to say the rhino pic with the flamingos in the background was my favorite, but then I got to the hippo….and I have a weird obsession with hippos. Thanks for linking up to the #SundayTraveler! 🙂

  13. February 12, 2014 at 1:26 am — Reply

    A wonderful collection of photographs. Capturing the tawny eagle with his wings up is wonderful. But there are so many good ones – like the flamingos and how spectuacular are the zebras white and black perfection against that green background!

  14. February 12, 2014 at 8:23 pm — Reply

    What a fantastic set of photos and the fact that you can do the park as a one day safari is amazing. I would love to go. I’ve done a safari in Namibia and Tanzania but I wasn’t into photography at the time.

  15. February 14, 2014 at 6:56 am — Reply

    I would have never thought that the first photo with the zebras and then the photos of the waterfall were taken in the same park. They seem so different. Lake Nakuru is appealing in that you can see so many animals in one day. I’d love to see that big mass of flamingoes.

  16. February 14, 2014 at 10:59 am — Reply

    What an amazing set of photos… I went only once on a safari in South Africa. I would love to experience Lake Nakuru for myself. Thanks for linking up to the #SundayTraveler.

  17. February 14, 2014 at 11:57 am — Reply

    Love all these wildlife photos! This park s just amazing and this is why a safari is at the top of my list. What an incredibly scenery. My favorites are anything with flamingos! I’m a sucker for them.

  18. February 14, 2014 at 11:18 pm — Reply

    Stunning pictures! Nakuru is a wonderful place with an amazing wildlife!

  19. February 15, 2014 at 3:14 pm — Reply

    Seeing your photos makes me want to take that Kenya safari I’ve been dreaming about. The flamingos alone would make it highly worthwhile. Amazing photos, as usual, Rachel! Enjoy your weekend.

  20. February 17, 2014 at 5:06 am — Reply

    I am amazed by a great variety of flora and fauna here. So so beautiful!

  21. February 21, 2014 at 10:40 am — Reply

    Lake Nakuru is a shallow firmly antacid lake set in a pleasant scene of encompassing forest and meadow. Nakuru is likewise the huge example of overcoming adversity for rhino. The recreation center was the center of ‘Rhino Rescue’, the philanthropy committed to sparing the world’s rhinos, which paid for and manufactured the electric fence that now encompasses the recreation center. Nakuru is likewise legitimately celebrated around the world for panthers. Around alternate species which multiply in the recreation center, the most great are the bison, giraffe and water buck. There are likewise very nearly 500 types of fledglings incorporating potentially the most elevated convergance of the excellent as far back as anyone can remember peaked falcon anyplace.

  22. April 23, 2014 at 6:35 pm — Reply

    What a great place to visit. Amazing shots.

  23. April 24, 2014 at 10:33 pm — Reply

    Hi Rachel, thanks for this delightful post. I felt like I went on safari to Lake Nakuru myself! Such amazing photos. I love the photos of punk flamingoes; they took my breath away. Would love to visit this park someday.

  24. June 26, 2014 at 1:59 am — Reply

    Wish I found this blog longer before I had to East Africa with my wife. Great info & pics… Looking forward to exploring this ourselves in the coming weeks!

  25. August 6, 2014 at 7:53 am — Reply

    Too bad that we don’t visit these places and they are too close to us. Nice Pic! Nice info

  26. June 2, 2015 at 1:46 pm — Reply

    Wow! Amazing photos Rachel! Just had to share this with my facebook friends

  27. […] Africa, the black and white rhino. I recall back when I was younger while on a school trip to the Lake Nakuru national park I was convinced that I had seen a white rhino because I thought white rhinos are actually white.  […]

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