The Kenyan section of the Rift Valley is home to eight lakes, the most famous surely being Lake Nakuru, whose algae-rich warm alkaline waters attract thousands if not millions of pink flamingo. Its shores – protected by a national park that shares its name – are home to both black and white rhino as well as a number of rare Rothschild’s giraffe.
Lake Elmenteita lies about an hour by road to Nakuru’s southeast, a much smaller, shallower soda lake whose waters are a deep blue-green. A RAMSAR site since 2005, Elmenteita is paradise for bird-watchers with over 400 individual avian species recorded in and around the lake including two types of flamingo, African Spoonbill and Great White Pelican. Close to the lake is the Kariandusi Museum, which showcases the prehistoric site where paleoanthropologist Louis Leakey discovered tools used by Early Stone age man in 1928.
Freshwater Lake Naivasha is the farthest south and in addition to prolific birdlife, boasts a sizeable population of hippos. Small but spectacular Hells Gate National Park is situated nearby, and offers visitors an opportunity to hike and cycle amid extinct volcanoes, towering cliffs and deep gorges inhabited by a range of wild animals including zebra, eland and gazelle. Look up, because this park is home to an array of endangered raptors and vultures that are commonly seen circling overhead.
A few meters from Lake Naivasha is Lake Oloiden, it was a fresh water lake considering it was once part of Lake Naivasha. However, in the late 1990’s the lake became significantly saline. This can be attributed to the fact that the lake has no outlet. In fact, the lake became so saline that it saw the death and migration of hundreds of birds and animal life. On the other hand, however, the salinity was perfect for the lesser flamingos and up to 2008, the lake was home to these beautiful birds. However, climate change in recent years led to the Lake Oloiden and Lake Naivasha waters occasionally mixing, therefore, reducing Oloiden’s salinity and gradual disappearance of the flamingos.(Note: Lake Oloiden is not yet gazzetted by the Government of Kenya)
Rift Valley Lakes Highlights
- See some of Kenya’s most iconic scenery
- Rich birdlife including flocks of flamingo
- Rhinos in Lake Nakuru National Park
- Impressive Hells’ Gate National Park
- Fascinating volcanic landscapes and early human history
When To Go
These three Rift Valley lakes lie at quite high elevations, so the climate is relatively mild all year round. If you’re hoping to see flamingos, it’s worth noting that their population varies according to the alkalinity of the soda lakes. As such, the more rainfall there is, the less alkaline the waters and consequently, the less flamingos there are likely to be. Therefore it might be worthwhile planning your trip to coincide with the drier months (July to October).
