Lake Bogoria, formerly known as Lake Hannington, is located south of Lake Baringo in Baringo County, Kenya. It’s an alkaline saline lake found in the volcanic region close to the equator. Lake Bogoria is renowned for having the highest concentration of geysers in Africa, with at least 18 geysers recorded.
Bishop Hannington visited the lake in 1885 when the area was inhabited by the Endorpis people, who were later evicted in the 1970s when it was gazetted as a game reserve. The average daytime temperature is 28°C, although it cools down at night.
Lake Bogoria is 3.5 kilometers wide, 34 kilometers long, with an elevation of 990 meters above sea level. It’s shallow, with a depth of about 10 meters and a drainage basin of 700 kilometers long. Lake Baringo’s primary inflows are the Esmod River, Sandai River, and springs.
Lake Bogoria has no outflows; therefore, the water remains and evaporates within the lake. The lake’s waters are pH 10.5 alkaline and saline, with total dissolved salts of up to 100 g/l.
Sediment cores from Lake Bogoria confirm that the lake was a freshwater lake over 10,000 years ago, with water levels higher than the current levels. There are three onshore sites with over 200 alkaline springs.
Lake Bogoria National Reserve derives its name from Lake Bogoria, which is found within the reserve. Lake Bogoria National Reserve was established in 1973. On August 27, 2001, Lake Bogoria was designated as a Ramsar site by UNESCO.
Lake Bogoria, together with Lake Elementeita, Lake Logipi, Lake Nakuru, and Lake Magadi, is home to some of the largest populations of lesser flamingoes in the world.
Some hot springs like Ngwasis, Losaramat, Chemurkei, Koibebei, and other springs discharge directly from the lake floor. Lake Bogoria covers an area of 107 square kilometers.
Lake Bogoria boasts stunning views of the Siracho escarpment, and you can take a nature-guided walk at the lake shores to explore its beautiful hot springs and geysers.
There are not many accommodation options when visiting Lake Bogoria, but tourists are permitted to camp at some designated areas, or you can find lodges at the nearby Loboi village.
Though Lake Bogoria does not have a high concentration of wildlife compared to other Kenyan national parks, there are a few animals that live in the reserve, including Grant’s gazelles, zebras, greater kudus, impalas, Kirk’s dik-dik, and warthogs, to name a few.
Lake Bogoria is famous for millions of flamingos, but bird enthusiasts can also visit Kesubo swamp just outside the reserve for great birding opportunities. Kesubo swamp boasts over 200 species of birds recorded, including lesser flamingoes, African fish eagles, little grebes, little stints, beautiful sunbirds, bearded woodpeckers, grey-headed bush shrikes, African hoopoes, magpie starlings, Jackson’s hornbills, woodland kingfishers, black-necked grebes, and greater flamingos, among others.
Cycling tours are organized around Lake Bogoria, offering one of the most thrilling ways to explore its flora and fauna. You can hire bikes on-site but bring your biking gear. Outside the reserve, locals sell raw eggs for visitors curious to go and boil them in one of the hot springs.
Lake Bogoria can be visited on a day trip or for one night of camping.
The best times for visiting Lake Bogoria are from June to September and December to February. If you’re primarily interested in flamingoes, the best time to visit is from August to October, though it’s not always predictable because they arrive at the lake when water levels are low.
The lake is located 239 kilometers northwest of Nairobi. There are no direct flights to Lake Bogoria, and the drive from Nairobi takes about 4 and a half hours.
Lake Baringo:
Tourists can also visit Lake Baringo, covering an area of 129 square kilometers and rising to 975 meters above sea level. The interesting thing about Lake Baringo is that it’s a freshwater lake without visible outlets because its waters seep into lavas. The lake is fed by the Perkerra River, Ol Arabel River, and Molo River.
Lake Baringo is part of the East African Rift Valley lake, and it’s a birder’s paradise with more than 500 species of birds recorded, making it one of the top birding destinations in Kenya. Bird enthusiasts can spot birds such as the slender-tailed nightjar, crowned eagle, Verreaux’s eagle, malachite kingfisher, African pygmy kingfisher, northern carmine bee-eater, bristle-crowned starling, Jackson’s hornbill, little weaver, Somali fiscal, brown-tailed rock chat, crimson-rumped waxbill, black-cheeked waxbill, pearl-spotted owlet, white-billed buffalo weaver, fox kestrel, cut-throat finch, star-spotted nightjar, northern masked weaver, northern white-faced scops owl, and Hemprich’s hornbill, among others.
There are four best birding sites in Baringo, including Roberts camp compound, Lake Baringo Club, Lake Baringo Trychite cliffs, and West Bay.
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