Lake Nakuru and Lake Naivasha
Lake Nakuru and Lake Naivasha are two of the most well-known lakes in the Rift Valley, which includes some of the oldest, largest and deepest lakes in the world. Lake Nakuru has become a National Park, while Lake Naivasha is an important lifeline in the area.
Lake Nakuru and Naivasha Highlights
An enormous geological fault-line, the Great Rift Valley divides Kenya neatly down the length of the country, separating east from west. Lake Naivasha and Lake Nakuru are 2 of the many lakes that have formed in the region.
Along the lengths of the Rift Valley are volcanoes, most now dormant. Lake Nakuru has become a national park and supports a wide ecological diversity. It is home to large protected flocks of lesser flamingoes, which turn the lake a vivid pink. It is also famous for it pelicans, black and white rhino, colobus monkeys, as well as, numerous antelopes, buffalo and giraffe.
Lake Naivasha is a freshwater lake and is an important lifeline in the area. Its close proximity to Nairobi has made it an ideal weekend retreat. It is a mecca for bird lovers and researchers.
The fertile farmland of this area is heavily contrasted by uninhabitable desert, flat arid plains and steep escarpments. It is characterised by many shallow mineral and freshwater lakes, such as Naivasha and Nakuru.
These lakes are 2 of the top visits in the area. They host some excellent wildlife, while exciting boating safaris can be organised, which prove to be a very different way to experience Kenya.
Both Lake Nakuru and Lake Naivasha's close proximity to Nairobi makes them an ideal location for a quick safari fix and the addition of some beautiful colonial heritage.
At the beginning of the 20th Century, Naivasha completely dried up and was used as farmland, until heavy rains a few years later caused the lake to swallow up the new establishments.
Loldia House is situated two hours drive from Nairobi and offers easy access from Nairobi's International Airport. Guests here can enjoy the spectacular views of Mount Longonot and explore the Great Rift Valley. Wild animals roam free on the farm.
Hippo Point House has resident game that includes buffalo, giraffe, hippo, zebra and gazelle. Guests can enjoy the sounds of splashing as hippos venture from the water under cover of darkness. Breakfast is served outside, whilst dinner is served by candlelight.
Lake Nakuru Tented Camp is a small and intimate bush camp located within the Lake Nakuru National Park. It is a mobile tent, operating from December to March and from July to October. Accommodation consists of spacious tents, comfortably furnished and equipped with ensuite bathrooms.
How to Get There
Guests travelling to Kenya for a game-viewing holiday will opt for either a ‘fly-in-fly’ or a ‘fly-in-drive’ safari, which will determine whether they make use of air or road transfers to get to their destination.
All guests will enter Kenya at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, the capital city. This airport is the travel portal for Kenya and can get very busy, so guests will often continue with their domestic flights from Wilson airport, which is 18km away.
Depending on the safari destination, guests will either connect with a charter flight from Wilson or Jomo Kenyatta airports to the reserve, or they will embark on a road journey from Nairobi to the reserve.
Lake Naivasha is in close proximity to Nairobi making it a convenient stop on a safari to the Masai Mara. Guests will take a light air transfer from Wilson airport to a local airstrip near their destination at the lakes.
Lake Nakuru and Naivasha Game Viewing and Activities
The Great Rift Valley is home to a diversity of animals and birdlife. There is an abundance of plains game and nocturnal animals, such as aardvark, civet, serval, leopard and striped hyena. Cheetah, lion and elephant are found in the swamp and grassy plains.
Other wildlife in the area includes buffalo, giraffe, wildebeest, eland, gazelle and many more. Much of the topography in the area was shaped by volcanic movement of the Great Rift Valley, which adds to the spectacular scenery.
Nearby is Hell's Gate National Park, one of only two parks in Kenya where guests are allowed to explore by foot. Another attraction close to this area is the Crater Lake Game Sanctuary.
Lake Nakuru National Park is renowned as a bird sanctuary with over 400 bird species, including huge flocks of flamingoes and many other water birds.
