Lake Bogoria National Park in Kenya

Lake Bogoria National Park is an alkaline lake located on the north side of Nakuru. It is a shallow salt lake that covers an area of ​​30 square kilometers and a maximum depth of 9 meters. This lake has no outlet and the level of salt and minerals is high due to high evaporation caused by high temperatures. Due to this condition, no species of fish can survive in the lake. The blue-green algae plant grows in the lake and is a good food source for the huge number of pink flamingo birds. This lake, along with lakes Nakuru, Magadi, Logipi and Elmentaita, are located in the Rift Valley and are ideal places to observe and host millions of flamingo birds.

This area was named as the third Ramsar site in Kenya and has been a protected National Park since November 29, 1973. Local features in this park include Kesubo Swamp, Siracho Escarpment, geysers and hot springs. The lake gets its water from the Sandai and Emsos rivers. In addition, there are about 200 other hot springs from Loburu, Chemurkeu and (Ng’wasis, Koibobei, Losaramat) that also drain their waters into this lake. There are also other hot springs that discharge water from the bottom of the lake. Visitors are advised to stay away from the hot springs to avoid burns.

There are also sulphurous waters that bubble up from the ground and are known to have therapeutic values. They are used for steam baths and natural spas. This park is also home to various animals such as gazelles, zebras, impalas, buffalo, dik-dik, Patas monkeys, kudu and klipspringer. You can also see predators such as cheetah, leopard, hyena, mongoose, jackal and Karakal cat. More than three hundred and seventy-four species of birds have been recorded, of which fifty are migratory birds. Game viewing in this park is ideal in the early morning and late afternoon to avoid high temperatures.

The Lake Bogoria National Park has an altitude that ranges between 1,000 and 1,670 m above sea level. The area receives a minimum rainfall of around 600 – 900 mm per year on the escarpment. Bishop Hannington described the area as the most beautiful sight in Africa during his first visit. In the past, this area was described as the jewel of the Rift Valley due to its breathtaking beauty. Visiting the springs is a wonderful adventure where you can boil an egg simply by placing it in the hot steam using a frying pan or old sock.