Kenya Parks
By Anthony Ham
Anthony is a renowned Africa expert and author of many Lonely Planet guidebooks, including the guide to Kenya.
This small reserve can only be visited as a day trip and is on few tourist itineraries. Most of the reserve consists of a large, algae-rich lake. Since the flamingos left Lake Nakuru after the flooding of 2012, Lake Bogoria is now one of the best places to see big flocks of these birds. There is only one road along the lake, which you need to backtrack to leave the reserve. Aside from birds, there is very little wildlife.
Pros & Cons
- Stunning scenery in the Rift Valley
- Excellent birding with flocks of flamingo
- Less visited reserve
- Wildlife sightings are rare
- Only one road to explore the shore of the lake
- No accommodation inside the park
Wildlife
The reserve’s main appeal lies in the scenery and the flamingos. The movement of the flamingos depends on water levels and algae concentrations. The reserve is also a refuge for greater kudu, but these stately animals aren’t seen very often. Warthog, Kirk's dik-dik, Grant's gazelle and impala can occasionally be seen crossing the road.
Scenery
The scenery of Lake Bogoria NR is breathtaking. The road runs along the lake at the base of the Rift Valley escarpment. Loburu Hot Springs is an interesting landmark, and a reminder of the tectonic activity in the area that shaped the Rift Valley. The road climbs up to viewpoints from where the dramatic scenery can be observed on a larger scale.
Weather & Climate
Consistently warm temperatures are the norm at Lake Bogoria, thanks to its equatorial location. It does get colder higher up the escarpment, but this area is off-limits to visitors. The weather in the Dry season (September to February) is very agreeable, though rain can wash in at short notice. The Wet season is characterized not so much by rainy days as rainy afternoons.
Best Time to Visit
Flamingos can be seen at the lake throughout the year. But it’s probably best to see them in the Dry season (September to February), when you can avoid the overcast skies and rain interruptions of the wetter months. The only drawback is the dust that can cloud the air at this time.
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