Lake Nakuru - great safari experience in small park

18.02.2020

This cute zebra is only 3 days old!; since 2013, Lake Nakuru has seen vastly increased rainfall which has closed the former roads around the lake (there is no outflow from the lake)

We camped at Lake Nakuru in very primitive conditions and I think that discouraged Lee from ever wanting to camp again; when our guide woke up there was a lioness and her cubs right next to our camp

Leopard; how our tour guide spotted this leopard we couldn't figure out; despite being relatively small, Lake Nakuru National Park provided one of the best safaris on our travels

Cape buffalo; we saw 4 of the Big 5 here (elephants aren't found at Lake Nakuru National Park)

Marabou stork; you've probably heard of the Big Five but the Marabou stork is one of the Ugly Five (along with hyena, warthog, wildebeest and vulture)

Rothschild's giraffe; beginning in 1977, the giraffes were relocated here from western Kenya in order to ensure their safety

The giant eland is the largest species of antelope and can run at up to 70 km/h (43 mph); native to Central Africa, this species is listed as vulnerable but not yet endangered

Baboons were plentiful; Lake Nakuru is only 164 kms north of Nairobi so tourists often visit it from there as a day trip

Black and white colubus monkey; Lake Nakuru is one of the Rift Valley soda lakes at an elevation of 1,754 m (5,755 ft) above sea level

White pelicans; the lake's abundance of algae used to attract a vast quantity of flamingos that famously lined the shore but with increased rainfall the flamingos have migrated to a saline lake in Kenya

Lion and lioness; despite being far away, we were thrilled to get our first lion sighting (they would be far from our last though)

Impala; Most young impala are born around mid-day as this is the safest time to give birth since most of their enemies are resting; sadly, half of newborn are killed by predators within the first few weeks of life

Rhino with child; eastern black rhinos and southern white rhinos have been introduced into the national park

Grey crowned crane; Lake Nakuru National Park was established in 1961; it started off small, only encompassing the famous lake and the surrounding mountainous vicinity, but has since been extended to include a large part of the savannas

Grey-headed kingfisher; nests in holes in steep riverbanks and is aggressively protective of its nest by repeated dive-bombing of foraging monitor lizards

I'm glad I didn't know at the time that the park has large sized pythons that inhabit the dense woodlands, and can often be seen crossing the roads or dangling from trees