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KENYA
CENTRAL RIFT VALLEY LAKES
To request a private safari tour of the Rift Valley in Kenya, click here >>> |
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Africa's
Great Rift Valley is a fault
in the earth's crust for over 3,500 miles (5,600km)
and contains numerous lakes both large and small.
In
Kenya the lakes are usually small shallow soda
lakes with crystallised salt turning the shores
white and alkaline waters in which algae and tiny
crustaceans thrive.
LAKE
NAKURU NATIONAL PARK
One such is Lake Nakuru, around which a National
Park was gazetted in 1968. It was created to
protect the large flocks of lesser flamingoes,
which turn the lake a vivid pink. The park now
protects other endangered species in the woodland
and bush grassland, in particular black and
white rhino. Game viewing is easy in this park
as the roads run through the bush and along
the lake.
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| LAKE
BOGORIA NATIONAL RESERVE
Lake Bogoria National Reserve is another alkaline
lake whose blue-green algae seasonally attracts
a million or so flamingoes, making it one of the
most colorful of all the lakes. The lake takes
up most of the reserve, which has a splendid backdrop
of the Siracho escarpment rising almost sheer
for 1,950 feet (600 meters). Orientation is simple
as there is just one road skirting the lakeshore.
Towards the end of the road are some boiling hot
springs, some of which spout up to a height of
16 feet (5 meters), while the rest just bubble
away like a witch's cauldron.
LAKE
NAIVASHA
Further south is a beautiful freshwater lake -
Lake Naivasha, which is used extensively to irrigate
vegetables, fruit and flowers that are exported
fresh-cut to Europe. Fertilisers and pesticides
from these producers have seeped into the lake,
causing a decline in the aquatic life. Nevertheless,
it still harbours hippos and plenty of birds.
It does not have protected status as most of the
land around the lake is privately owned.
It
was this beautiful lakeland area that was first
settled by the British in the 1930's and where
the 'Happy Valley' set made a scandalous name
for themselves. Many farms around here are still
owned by white Kenyans. |
| ANIMALS
& BIRDS
Lake
Nakuru National Park is famous for its flamingoes
and pelicans, and there is nowhere else you can
see black and white rhino browsing and grazing
with such a backdrop. It also has black and white
colobus monkeys as well as numerous antelopes,
buffalo and the rare Rothschild's giraffe. Leopard
are often seen during daylight hours.
Lake
Bogoria National Park has herds of rare and handsome
greater kudu, as well as buffalo, zebra, impala,
dik dik and other small mammals. 135 species of
birds have been recorded here.
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| LAKE
NAKURU SPECIALITIES
· Thousands of flamingoes
· Black and white rhino
· Rothschild's giraffe
· Black and white colobus
monkeys
LAKE
BOGORIA SPECIALITIES
· Rare greater kudu
· Hot springs
· Flamingoes
· Fish Eagles preying
on flamingoes
SEASONS
Temperatures are very pleasant year round and
do not vary that much, with an average of 75°F
(24°C)
Rainy Season: April - June -
hot and wet (long rains), November - December
- warm and wet (short rains).
Dry Season: January - March -
hot and dry, July - October - warm and dry
FACTS
This is a malarial area.
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Follow
the links below to Kenya's premier wildlife regions and game
reserves
PRIVATE SAFARI LODGES WE RECOMMEND IN THE RIFT VALLEY REGION |
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