Lake Nakuru National Park

Birds

Expert

By Anthony Ham

Anthony is the author of the Lonely Planet guide to Kenya.

Lake Nakuru is a great birding destination with more than 500 species recorded. The soda lake is a birding hotspot and supports a lot of birdlife, including large flocks of pelicans. Unfortunately, flamingos are no longer the drawcard here as unfavorable conditions have driven many of them to other Rift Valley lakes. Nakuru is also one of the best places in Kenya to see the striking, long-tailed widowbird. There is a good variety of raptors including Verreaux’s and long-crested eagle.

Notable Birds in Lake Nakuru NP

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Great white pelican
Common

Birding Rating

Expert Rating

4.3/5 10 Birding Reviews

User Rating

4.1/5 151 Birding Reviews

Birding Specials –Treats for Avid Birders

(E) endemic = only lives in Kenya
(NE) near-endemic = also lives in neighboring countries

Facts & Figures

Bird Species

400+

Migratory Birds

Nov to Apr

Best Time for Bird Watching

The best time to visit the park for birders is from November to April. This is the breeding season and many birds are in full plumage. This is also a good time to tick of extra species as migrants from Europe and north Africa are present as well. Most interesting species are present throughout the year and therefore bird watching is good at any time. Although it’s good for birding, April tends to be very wet, and is a less productive time for general wildlife viewing.