Lake Bogoria National Reserve is found at the base of the Rift Valley Province of Kenya, covering an area of 107 square kilometers, mainly comprising Lake Bogoria and the surrounding area. It has an altitude of 985-1823 meters above sea level.
The reserve is normally visited on a one-day trip. The reserve derives its name from Lake Bogoria, an alkaline saline lake within the reserve. Some spectacular hot springs, like Chemurkei hot springs, puff up from within the lake.
Entry Fee The entry fee to Lake Bogoria National Reserve is $20 for foreign non-resident adults, $10 for foreign non-resident children, foreign resident adults will pay KES 500 while their children pay KES 250, and East African citizens will pay KES 200 for adults and KES 100 for children. The entry fee changes from year to year, so always check for updates from the Kenya Wildlife Service.
History The ancient Endorpis people used to inhabit the areas of Lake Bogoria National Reserve for many years until they were evicted in 1970 when the area was gazetted as a game reserve.
Lake Bogoria National Reserve was established in 1970 to protect Lake Bogoria and its immediate surrounding land. In 1892, geologist G.W. Gregory described the lake as “The most beautiful view in Africa.” Bishop Hannington visited the area in 1885 when the Endorpis still inhabited the reserve.
Lake Bogoria National Reserve was designated a World Heritage Site in 1999 and a Ramsar site in 2001 by UNESCO.
It is believed that Lake Bogoria was a freshwater lake over 10,000 years ago. The lake has no outflow, so the water evaporates within it.
Location Lake Bogoria National Reserve is located in the Rift Valley Province of Kenya on the Ngendelel Escarpment, south of Lake Baringo in Baringo County. The reserve is 241 kilometers from Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya by road, which can roughly take a journey of 4 hours.
There are no direct flights from Nairobi to Lake Bogoria, but alternatively, you can fly to Nakuru or Naivasha and then drive to Lake Bogoria National Reserve.
Best Time to Visit Lake Bogoria National Reserve can be visited all year round due to its semi-arid climate; however, some months are more favorable than others.
The best time to visit Lake Bogoria National Reserve is during the drier months of June to August and December to February when the weather conditions at the reserve are more favorable. During these dry months, wildlife is concentrated around permanent water sources in the park, and the vegetation is not dense, making it easier to see wildlife.
The best time for birding at Lake Bogoria is from November to April when migratory birds are present. September to February is the best time to see flamingos.
Animals Lake Bogoria National Reserve is a habitat for animals such as greater kudu, dik-dik, warthogs, buffalos, zebras, caracals, cheetahs, spotted hyenas, olive baboons, Grant’s gazelles, and impalas, among others. Although the reserve doesn’t provide excellent wildlife viewing like other Kenyan national parks, animals are seen occasionally.
Accommodation There is no accommodation inside Lake Bogoria National Reserve, but some public campsites have been established with basic facilities like toilets, running water, and bathrooms. You can bring your own tent or hire one from the reserve.
What to Do Birding Lake Bogoria National Reserve is home to about 350 species of birds. Some examples of birds found here include lesser flamingoes, woodland kingfishers, African fish eagles, little stints, beautiful sunbirds, bearded woodpeckers, African hoopoes, grey-headed bush shrikes, black-necked grebes, Jackson’s hornbills, Abyssinian scimitarbills, Egyptian vultures, golden-backed weavers, cape teals, African wattled lapwings, black-headed lapwings, black-tailed godwits, white-billed buffalo weavers, Verreaux’s eagles, steel-blue whydahs, southern pochards, sombre nightjars, greater painted-snipes, D’Arnaud’s barbets, rufous crowned rollers, rufous chatterers, narina trogons, lesser honeyguides, grosbeak canaries, and tawny eagles, among others.
Biking Biking tours can be organized at Lake Bogoria National Reserve at a small cost. Tourists can bring their own riding gear and hire bicycles.
Wildlife Watching The shores of Lake Bogoria are of acacia woodlands, savannah grasslands, and riverine forests that provide a habitat for a number of wildlife, including greater kudus, warthogs, caracals, zebras, cheetahs, buffalos, olive baboons, spotted hyenas, dik-diks, impalas, and Grant’s gazelles. The animals, though, are rarely sighted at the reserve.
Nature Guided Walks You can take a nature guided walk with a ranger at Lake Bogoria National Reserve. Exploring the breathtaking lake shores of Bogoria and coming close to wildlife and abundant birdlife at the reserve is a beautiful experience.
Picnicking Lake Bogoria can be visited on a one-day trip; therefore, many visitors carry picnic lunches to enjoy at viewpoints on picnic sites while observing the beauty of the reserve.
What to See/Attractions Lake Bogoria The beautiful Lake Bogoria dominates 32 square kilometers of Lake Bogoria National Reserve. It is fed by the Weseges River, flowing from the spectacular Aberdare Mountain Ranges. Lake Bogoria is alkaline, with blue-green algae that feed thousands of flamingoes. The movements of flamingoes at Lake Bogoria depend on algae concentrations and water levels.
Lake Bogoria is famous for having the highest concentration of geysers in Africa, with about 18 geysers recorded.
Loburu Hot Springs The ground at Lake Bogoria was formed geologically from recent volcanic rocks from the Miocene-Pleistocene era. There are about 200 beautiful hot springs in and around the lake shores of Lake Bogoria, with a high content of carbon dioxide causing the vibrant boiling of the springs. You can take some eggs and boil them at the hot springs.
Viewpoints Lake Bogoria National Reserve views are breathtaking, from the mighty lake to the Siracho Valley Escarpment. Different viewpoints have been established for you to admire its flora and fauna.
Geysers Lake Bogoria is known for having the highest concentration of geysers in Africa, with over 80 geysers recorded. These were formed as a result of volcanic activity within the Earth’s surface that left vents resulting in geysers. Water levels at Lake Bogoria greatly affect geyser activity. KL30 was the highest natural geyser in Africa but was also affected when the lake flooded.
Lake Nakuru National Park A tour of Lake Nakuru National Park can be combined with Lake Bogoria National Reserve. The park is dominated by Lake Nakuru, towered by picturesque Rift Valley escarpments. Lake Nakuru National Park is one of the most famous tourist attractions in Kenya, well known for its millions of flamingoes.
The national park was established in 1961 to protect a habitat for flamingoes and other wildlife living at the shores.
Lake Nakuru National Park is not only home to millions of flamingoes but also a birders’ paradise with over 450 species of birds recorded. Some examples of birds found at Lake Nakuru National Park are white-faced whistling ducks, fulvous whistling ducks, Madagascar pond herons, pallid harriers, greater spotted eagles, greater and lesser flamingoes, great white pelicans, grey crowned cranes, black-tailed godwits, African fish eagles, maccoa ducks, red-capped larks, long-tailed widowbirds, lappet-faced vultures, Kenyan rufous sparrows, grey-crested helmet shrikes, great snipes, Rüppell’s vultures, sooty falcons, Speke’s weavers, white-fronted bee-eaters, white-headed vultures, western reef herons, slender-billed greenbuls, Schalow’s wheatears, Rüppell’s robin-chats, shining sunbirds, rufous-throated wrynecks, montane white-eyes, northern puffbacks, Hildebrandt’s starlings, eastern imperial eagles, European rollers, crab plovers, brown-backed scrub-robins, grey-headed woodpeckers, arrow-marked babblers, and bateleurs, among others.
Lake Nakuru National Park was also enlarged to provide a sanctuary for endangered black and white rhinos. The sanctuary has been successful, housing some of the largest rhino concentrations in Kenya. The other animals in the park include waterbucks, Rothschild’s giraffes, leopards, cheetahs, lions, zebras, and much more.
Lake Naivasha National Park Lake Naivasha National Park gets its name from Lake Naivasha, which dominates the park. The word “Naivasha” comes from the local Maasai word “Naiposha,” meaning “rough water,” a reference to the sudden and unpredictable storms that can occur here.
The park was established in 1995 and covers an area of 140 square kilometers. It has become a popular stopover for tourists traveling to Hell’s Gate National Park, Lake Nakuru National Park, and Lake Bogoria National Reserve.
At Lake Naivasha, you can visit the famous Crescent Island located within the lake, which is also accessible via a swamp road, although it is better avoided during the wet season as road conditions can deteriorate. Crescent Island is one of the prime locations for taking a nature-guided walk.
Lake Naivasha National Park is home to a variety of animal species including lions, leopards, zebras, hippos, buffalos, giraffes, waterbucks, and olive baboons, to name a few. There are over 350 bird species recorded at Lake Naivasha. Examples of birds found at the park include the black-headed heron, Egyptian goose, greater and lesser flamingoes, Namaqua dove, great spotted cuckoo, and Eurasian nightjar.
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