Lake Nakuru National Park in Kenya (East Africa)

Lake Nakuru is a shallow alkaline lake situated in the awesome Rift Valley in Kenya; East Africa. Near the Lake is the breathtaking Lake Nakuru National park, located in Central Kenya, in the Nakuru district; about 140 km north-west of Nairobi, Kenya’s capital city. Established in 1961, the park covers a surface area of 188 km² (73 ml²) and is unique in its immense population of birds. Lake Nakuru is characterised by abundance of algae; which attract a bewildering population of both lesser and greater flamingos, numbering in millions; rendering the area the greatest bird spectacle on the planet. The flamingos can be sighted nesting along the shore of the lake. It has been estimated that 250.000 kg of algae are consumed by flamingos per hectare of surface area per year. Apart from flamingos, the lake abounds in numerous other species of birds. Indeed, about 400 species of birds dwell in and around the area of Lake Nakuru. Bird species frequently sighted at Lake Nakuru include African fish eagle, goliath heron, hamerkop, pied kingfisher, verreaux eagle, pelican, cormorant, grebes, tern, stilt, avocet, duck, and more.

Another ecologically interesting area around the lake, covering 188 km (116 ml), has been fenced, to provide a sanctuary for giraffes, black and white rhinoceros. Though the fence somewhat serves to restrict the mobility of animals, it had been particularly put in place to protect the animals from random and rampant poaching activities.  The park is home to more than 75 white rhinoceros, and 25 black rhinoceros, one of the largest concentration of that particular species in the country. Also to be found in the park are species such as lion, cheetah, leopard, warthogs, baboons etc. The park equally hosts massive pythons, which essentially dwell in the dense woodlands; and are frequently sighted crossing the road or dangling from trees.