The Kenya Lake System in the Great Rift Valley consists of three alkaline soda lakes which include Lake Bogoria, Lake Nakuru and Lake Elementaita. Located on the rift valley floor in endorheic basins, water flows into the lakes through direct rainfall, geysers, hot springs and rivers and only flows out through evaporation or underground channels. As such, the lakes experience high rates of evaporation leading to accumulation of minerals and ions including sodium carbonate-bicarbonate, Thermonatrite, Trona, sodium chloride, fluoride, silicates, sulphates.
These ions concentrate and form highly salty waters with a pH ranging between 8 to 12 which support the growth of blue-green algae (cyanobacteria), the main food for flamingos. The lakes are famous for harboring over 2 million flamingos and are recognized as Ramsar Wetlands of International Importance, Important Bird Areas (IBAs) by Birdlife International due to their remarkable birdlife and a World Heritage Site designated by UNESCO in 2011 due to their global ecological importance. The lakes are located along the African-Eurasian migratory flyway, an important bird migration route connecting Europe, Asia and Africa, making the lakes a major stopover for migratory bird species.
Flamingos are the major attraction and there are two species of flamingos which include the lesser flamingo and Greater flamingo. Both species almost look similar, however. They have some differences as explained below:-
The Lesser Flamingo is relatively smaller in size with deep pink or reddish color, dark red or maroon bill with a black tip. They tend to gather in large flocks and feed mostly on blue-green algae.
The Greater Flamingo is the largest flamingo species and has pale pink or whitish color, long neck and long legs, pink bill with a black tip. Greater flamingos tend to gather in relatively small flocks and feed on algae among other microorganisms including crustaceans, insects and mollusks.
Flamingos often move between these lakes depending on food availability. For instance, when water levels rise in Lake Nakuru or Lake Elementaita, many flamingos tend to move to Lake Bogoria where the water remains more alkaline. The movement of birds between these lakes for feeding, nesting and bleeding make for a must-visit wildlife spectacle in East Africa. Flamingos also prefer these lakes due to the shallow waters as the birds can stand in the water while feeding. The highly salty water discourages predators such as hyenas, jackals, cheetahs and birds of prey from entering the lake which makes a safe sanctuary.
In addition to flamingos, the Kenya Lakes System, being wetlands in semi-arid zone are rich in biodiversity including black rhinos, which are found in Lake Nakuru national park. Each lake offers unique opportunities for birding, spectacular scenery, wildlife and cultural experiences.
Lake Elementaita
Spanning a surface area of 18 sq. km (6.9 sq mi), with an average depth of 1.9 meters, Lake Elementaita is the smallest and shallowest in the lake system. The lake stands at an elevation of 1,670 m (5,480 ft) above sea level and is part of an IBA that includes the surrounding features including Kituro Hill 2,140 meters (7,020 feet), Elementaita Badlands black lava fields and Soysambu Wildlife Sanctuary. The lake is fed by mild heat hydro-thermal Kekopey Hot Springs and some freshwater rivers and streams which include Mereroni and Kariandusi that originate from Ndunduri-Ngorika hills. The area receives less rainfall amounts of 600 mm per annum. Lake Elmenteita has a high alkalinity over 1,500 mg/L, and hosts both lesser and Greater Flamingos.
However, the lake experiences rapid evaporation leading to low water levels and crystallization of salty water into a white, crusty mineral called trona (sodium sesquicarbonate). These hardened volcanic basalt rocks form islands unique to the lake that serve as breeding grounds for over thousands of Great White Pelicans, making for one of the most important pelican nesting sites in East Africa. The vegetation surrounding Lake Elementaita is dominated byTarchonanthus camphoratus, an evergreen shrub and Acacia xanthophloea which support over 400 species of birds of which over 20,000 water birds have been recorded to visit the lake including Pied avocet, Yellow billed Stork, Egyptian Goose, Great Cormorant, and Blacksmith Plover. The also attracts birds of prey such as African Marsh harrier, African fish eagle, African Harrier hawk, Long Crested eagle. Lake Elementaita was declared a National Wildlife Sanctuary in 2010 and offers a wide range of attractions as follows:-
Pelican colonies
Rocky islands in the lake serve as breeding colonies of Great White Pelicans, making it one of the best places in East Africa to see these birds nesting.
Horse Riding Safaris
Some lodges near the lake offer horseback safaris, allowing visitors to explore the landscape while observing wildlife.
Lake Nakuru
Lake Nakuru lies at an elevation of 1,754 m (5,755 ft) located between Lake Elementaita to the south and Lake Bogoria to the north. The lake covers an area of 45 sq. km (17.4 sq. miles) and is part of the protected area of Lake Nakuru National Park (188 sq. km) famous for harboring black rhinos. Lake Nakuru is shallow with an average depth of 2.5 meters and is fed by permanent Ngosur River which originates from Eastern Mau Forest. Among other seasonal rivers including Nderit, Lamudhiak and Makalia also feed into the lake during the wet season between March to May.
Heavy rainfall of up to 1,200 mm per annum is received through the catchment area and this has been responsible for the rising water levels of Lake Nakuru which has altered the ecosystem. Prior to 2010, Lake Nakuru was a pure soda lake with a pH of over 10 and alkalinity up to 150 meq/L in the 1970s. However, due to recent rising water levels, the lake’s pH and alkalinity have recently dropped to 8.9-9.5. As a result, Lake Nakuru has experienced reduction growth of phytoplankton blue green algae that flamingos feed on. The number of flamingos have also significantly reduced as birds are migrating to more sada lakes including Bogoria.
What used to be the “Flamingo capital of the World” attracting over 2 million birds, the status is gradually changing to “Blue-Green Hybrid.” Nevertheless, Lake Nakuru is still an important breeding ground for lesser flamingos and also attracts over 450 bird species including Adbim’s Stork, Spur-Winged goose, Eurasian Hobby, Narina Tragon, Olive bee-eater, Little Ringed plover, African Black duck, Giant Kingfisher. In addition to birds, Lake Nakuru national park is rich in biodiversity including black rhinos, Nubian giraffes and lions, cheetahs and African painted dogs. The park offers a wide range of activities including birding, game drives and rhino tracking.
Activities at Lake Nakuru
Game drives are the main activity in the park offering opportunities for visitors to spot wildlife including Black and white rhinos, Buffaloes, zebras, Nubian giraffes and Big Cats Lions and leopards.
Viewpoints
Several viewpoints overlook the lake, including Baboon Cliff and Lion Hill offer spectacular scenery of the lake and surrounding savannah, making for a must-visit gem for a keen photographer.
Waterfall Visits
Visitors can also explore the Makalia Falls, a scenic waterfall surrounded by woodland within the park.
Lake Bogoria
Located at an elevation of 990 meters above sea level (3,250 ft), Lake Bogoria 17.6 km long and 3.6 km wide has an average depth of 10.2 m, making for the deepest among the Kenya Lakes System. The lake is fed by both freshwater rivers, hot springs and geysers with a water catchment area of over 700 sq. km. The lake’s western shores contain over 200 geothermal hot springs including Loburu Hot Springs and 18 active geysers including KL30, Chermurkeu Geyser and Ng’wasis geysers with temperatures reaching up to 98.5°C.
Lake Bogoria is famous for harboring the highest density of over 1.5 million lesser flamingos and Greater flamingos, which are the main attractions. In addition to flamingos, Lake Bogoria is home to over 350 species of birds including African fish eagles, Greater Painted snipe, Egyptian vultures, African Wattled lapwing, Narina Tragon. The lake is part of the protected area Lake Bogoria National Reserve covering 107 sq. km home to mammals including Impala, Greater Kudus, Plains Zebras, Nubian giraffes and Warthogs. Predators in the reserve include spotted hyenas, cheetahs and leopards.
Attractions to visit
Geyser and Hot Spring
The lake’s western shore has over 200 hot springs and several active geysers. Visitors can walk around these geothermal features and watch steam rising from the ground. Some geysers erupt at intervals, creating spectacular scenery.
Best time to visit the lakes
The best time to visit the Rift Valley lakes for bird watching is during the dry season between September and March. During this time, migratory birds are present. Flamingo numbers can vary throughout the year depending on water levels and food availability, so sightings may shift between the lakes.
How to get there
Lake Elementaita is 120 km (2-hour drive), Lake Nakuru is 160 km (2-hour drive) and Lake Bogoria is 250 km (4-hour drive) from Nairobi capital city, making it possible to visit two or all three lakes on a multi-day safari.
