Lake Nakuru

Lake Nakuru National Park is one of the most popular parks in Kenya, known for its beautiful Rift Valley
soda lake, Lake Nakuru, and diverse wildlife species. The park has three main gates and is home to over
400 bird species, including the famous flamingos that turn the lake pink (sometimes exceeding 1.5
million), which covered the lake in a blanket of pink. Since 2012, rising water levels from heavy flooding
have drastically reduced this phenomenon, shrinking the flamingos’ breeding and feeding grounds. More
recently there have been promising signs of flamingos returning. Lake Nakuru National Park is also a
habitat for over 100 endangered rhinos, Rothschild’s giraffes, buffalos, waterbucks, lions, impalas, and
many more animal species.
The park’s history dates back to 1957 when the lake was declared a conservation area to preserve its bird
life and reduce pollution. In 1961, the southern section of the park was declared a bird sanctuary, and in
1968, the park was gazetted as one of Kenya’s national parks after its area was expanded to include the
northern savannah lands. The park became a sanctuary for rare and endangered animals, and in 1984, it
was designated the first government-protected rhino sanctuary in Kenya.