Lakes of The Great Rift Valley, Kenya

Lakes of The Great Rift Valley, Kenya

 The Lakes of the Great Rift Valley, Kenya are freshwater eco regions of great biodiversity, while others are alkaline "soda lakes" supporting highly specialized organisms. The main lakes of Kenya’s Great Rift Valley include Lake Nakuru, Lake Naivasha, Lake Elementaita, Lake Magadi, Lake Baringo, Lake Bogoria, Lake Logipi, Lake Turkana and Lake Victoria. Many of these are surrounded by wilderness areas or game reserves which provide opportunities to see pelicans, flamingos, buffalo, lion, rhino, elephant and more.

The main lakes of Kenya’s Great Rift Valley include Lake Nakuru, Lake Naivasha, Lake Elementaita, Lake Magadi, Lake Baringo, Lake Bogoria, Lake Logipi, Lake Turkana and Lake Victoria. Possibly one of Kenya’s most famous images is that of clouds of brilliant pink flamingos rising from a glittering lake with the shadow of the Great Rift Valley wall behind at Lake Nakuru. The hot springs of lake Bogoria, the pelicans and hippos of Lake Naivasha, the fish eagles of Lake Baringo.

Documented by countless nature films it is even more spectacular to see in real life. Standing on the lake shore at Nakuru hearing the gabble of flamingos and watching pelicans swoop low over the water is spectacular. Many of Kenya’s Great Rift Valley Lakes are surrounded by wilderness areas or game reserves. These provide wonderful opportunities for not only enjoying the pelicans and flamingos but big game such as buffalo, lion, rhino, elephant and more.

Lake Nakuru

The most famous of the rift valley lakes is probably Lake Nakuru. A shallow alkaline lake rich in phytoplankton upon which both lesser and greater flamingos love to graze. Numbers of flamingos can fluctuate throughout the year from a few hundred to hundreds of thousands forming a bright pink layer over the lake.

Lake Naivasha

Lake Naivasha, an hour's drive from Nakuru is fresh water and surrounded by farms, many of which are flower farms. With a number of small homesteads and nature reserves and within driving distance of Nairobi it makes an ideal place to start a safari. A special place to visit while at Lake Naivasha is the Hells Gate National Park with its spectacular gorges, bicycle tracks and rock buffs believed to have inspired the scenes in the Lion King Movie.

Lake Magadi

Lake Magadi is little known, a shallow alkaline lake in Kenya’s far south. It is a wild area with a number of Maasai communities, the largest soda ash producer in the world and nomadic wild game. Scenery is dramatic, there is only one small but spectacular lodge luxury – this is a place for the truly adventurous.

Lake Victoria

Lake Victoria lies just outside the Rift Valley and is surrounded by numerous villages and small towns. Whilst the lake shore can be unremarkable there are a number of small tropical islands that are idyllic. Hills covered in lush vegetation drop down to clear blue waters dotted with white-sailed dhows. An hour’s flight in light aircraft from the Masai Mara there is no better place to put your feet up and relax after a safari.

Lake Bogoria

Lake Bogoria is a caustic cauldron fringed by geysers and populated by over a million flamingoes

Other Rift Valley Lakes, Kenya include:


Why Visit Lakes of The Great Rift Valley, Kenya.

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