The best destination for bird watching in Kenya 2024

The best destination for bird watching in Kenya 2024 : Lake Nakuru, which is in the Great Rift Valley and is surrounded by marshes, forests, and grasslands, is overseen by the Kenya Wildlife Service. In addition to the lake, the 73 square mile park is home to savannah, woodlands, wetlands, and the Makalia Falls, which is located near the park’s southernmost point. Lake Nakuru National Park, well-known for its rhino sanctuary, is a fantastic destination in Kenya. The park is a great place to see wildlife and is home to many aquatic creatures, including hippos and many others. Lake Nakuru Park was created in 1961 and is recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is well known for its enormous flamingos, which give the lake a pink hue.

It is one of the most well-known parks in South Africa and is regarded as the finest bird display on earth. The vast, shallow lake is encircled by grasslands, marshes, and forests. Numerous springs and the Njoro, Makalia, and Enderit rivers are its three main sources of water. One of the most well-known Kenya safari tourist destinations, Lion Hill and Baboon Cliff, provide visitors with a fantastic opportunity to see the lake. There are 400 resident kinds of birds on the lake and in the nearby national park. The lake’s size varies from five to thirty square kilometres based on the amount of rainfall. Lake Nakuru National Park is home to around 500 plant species, 50+ animal species, and 400 kinds of birds. The park has seen an increase in visitors recently thanks to reports of leopard sightings and the endangered Rothschild’s giraffe. Nowadays, animals find refuge in the acacia and euphorbia forests during the day, which makes Lake Nakuru one of South Africa’s top wildlife destinations.

Makalia Falls

In Central Kenya, the Lake Nakuru National Park is home to flamingos as well as other species, stunning scenery, and untamed animals. The park boasts breathtaking granite peaks that rise well above the surrounding terrain, providing unparalleled views of the surrounding area, birds, animals, and Lake Nakuru.

The majority of people are familiar with Lake Nakuru National Park because of the beautiful flamingos that frequent its shores. While it is true that these birds are the park’s most noticeable feature, visitors will also find many other wonderful features and attractions that will delight them.

More than 400 different species of birds may be seen residing in Lake Nakuru National Park, a bird sanctuary with savannah-type vegetation.  Naturally, flamingos, Maccoa ducks, Northern puffback, Red-capped larks, Rufous-throated wrynecks, and Shining Sunbirds are among the variety of birds.

More than fifty animal species call Lake Nakuru National Park home, with some of them finding refuge in the park’s flora. Lake Nakuru itself is home to rhinos. The waterbuck, hippos, buffalos, Rothschild’s giraffe, impalas, lions, leopards, cheetahs, and black and white rhinos are just a few of the creatures that make up this group.

Baboon Cliff

Baboon Cliff at Lake Nakuru National Park: Situated in the Great Rift Valley in central Kenya, Lake Nakuru National Park is breathtakingly gorgeous. It provides a variety of exciting activities for visitors to enjoy, ensuring that their stay is not only memorable but also rewarding.

Numerous bird species can be found in Lake Nakuru National Park, including the well-known flamingos, pelicans, African fish eagles, chattering weaver, flouncing ostrich, jaunty ox-peckers, swooping bee eaters, glamming starlings, and many more. More than fifty different mammal species can be found at Lake Nakuru National Park, such as the Rothschild’s giraffe, buffalo, baboons, hippos, waterbucks, zebras, impalas, and black and white rhinos in the rhino sanctuary. Along with its abundance of wildlife and birdlife, Lake Nakuru National Park boasts breathtaking rocky vistas where tourists may enjoy lovely picnics in the fresh air and take in breathtaking views of the lake, the park, and the surrounding countryside.

Baboon Cliff is an exceptionally stunning rocky overlook in Lake Nakuru National Park that is a must-visit location for picnics, bird watching, lake views, and wildlife viewing. Nestled along the western beaches of Lake Nakuru, the Baboon Cliff is situated on the park’s northwest edge. Of all the overlooks in Lake Nakuru National Park, the Baboon Cliff receives the greatest number of visitors. The baboons that frequent the area around the cliff and typically engage with visitors are the reason behind the name of the Baboon Cliff.

Baboon Cliff is well-maintained, offering visitors parking, restrooms, sitting areas, and resting areas. As such, you may enjoy your time at the cliff without worrying about these minor matters. The Baboon Cliff offers unparalleled views of Lake Nakuru, the surrounding areas, the park, and the flamingos on the lake. It is situated above the park’s ground level, at a height that is neither too high nor too low.

Rhinoceros sanctuary in Lake Nakuru

Presently, the greatest population of black rhinos in Kenya may be found at the Rhino refuge in Lake Nakuru National Park, which was Kenya’s first rhino refuge. When the first two rhinos were brought into the Lake Nakuru National Park, the rhino sanctuary was created in 1984.

After being translocate from Lewa Downs and Kitengela, the sanctuary first housed two adult rhinos. Over time, more rhinos were added, and as of right now, it is home to at least 150 rhinos. The Kenyan government launched an attempt to address the catastrophic drop in the endangered rhino species occurring in the wild throughout Kenya, and the result was the establishment of the rhino sanctuary in Lake Nakuru National Park.

In order to safeguard these critically endangered creatures from poachers who were relentlessly slaughtering the already critically rare animals, the Kenyan government launched the conversing rhino effort with a plan to build walled zones for these animals throughout the nation.

The Kenyan government constructed the first rhino sanctuary in Lake Nakuru National Park, which was formally opened in 1987, in collaboration with the Rhino Rescue Charitable Appeal Trust. In addition to the two rhinos that were already in the park, 17 rhinos from a private ranch in South Africa were added to the sanctuary upon its official opening. Later, 11 additional rhinos were added. Because Lake Nakuru National Park possessed the necessary space for the rhinos to be relocated at the time and was already a bird sanctuary, it was chosen as the first rhino sanctuary. Lake Nakuru National Park was and still is the ideal location for the rhino sanctuary since rhinos require water on a daily basis, which made the lake’s existence beneficial for rhinos to establish a life in the park. The area’s vegetation is also suited for both white and black rhinos.

One of Kenya’s 23 wildlife parks, Lake Nakuru National Park spans 188 km2, 40 km2 of which is occupied by the well-known lake Nakuru, with the remaining portion being made up of active grasslands and savannah woods.