The Great Rift Valley Lakes in Kenya

The Great Rift Valley Lakes in Kenya

LAKE NAKURU NATIONAL PARK (THE PINK LAKE). This is a 200-sq. km shallow Soda Lake lying in the volcanic strewn Rift Valley and is one of a chain of lakes stretching the length of Kenya from Tanzania to Ethiopia. It is world's greatest bird spectacle with millions of pink flamingoes (greater and lesser flamingoes)  and pelicans, birds of prey like vulture, eagle and such animals as waterbuck and black  and white rhino, buffalo, reedbuck, gazelle, leopard, hyrax, hippos, velvet-monkey, Rothschild giraffe and baboon. This is an ideal place for ornithologists and photographers.

LAKE NAIVASHA. This is one of the Rift Valley's fresh water lakes with different ecology from that of the soda lakes. It is also home to a large variety of bird species. Main activities are fishing (both sport and commercial fishing). The Crater Lake found here is magnificent with lush green vegetation at the bottom of a beautiful volcanic crater. HELL'S GATE national park, located in Naivasha area, is one of the lowland parks in the country which you can walk through. The looming cliffs and the Hell's Gate gorge itself are spectacular and home to a variety of birds  and such animals as zebra, baboons, Thomson gazelle, antelope, cheeter, and leopard. Another main attraction is the Fischer's Tower - 25-m high calcium of volcanic rock. The Olkaria Geothermal power station, which uses one of the hottest sources of energy in the world, is also a spectacular site, with plumes of steam rising into the air
 

LAKE ELEMENTAITA. This is a shallow soda lake in the Rift Valley with ecology similar to that of Lake Nakuru. It is home to a large variety of birds such as flamingos and pelicans.

LAKE BOGORIA . This is a shallow lake found in the Rift Valley, covering an area of 30 square kilometer, with a depth of 9 meters and home to flamingoes. Other attractions are the HOT SPRINGS and GEYSERS (with the Hot Springs boiling hot), gazelles, greater kudu, and impala. The sheer face of the northeastern ends of the Aberdare ranges dominates the eastern side of the lake.

LAKE BARINGO. This is a fresh water lake in the Rift Valley, covering an area of 170 square kilometer, with a depth of 12 meters. Kampi ya Samaki is the center of exploration in lake Baringo. This is a spectacular and mellow place to visit particularly with the boating trips to the islands such as the 'Devil's island' and also with the bird walk, together with the various water sports available to tourists.