The Lakes of Kenya

The great Rift Valley Lakes and Lake Victoria

Formed long ago as the continent of Africa was shifting and volcanic activity was prevalent. Today the lakes of Kenya and Tanzania mark a line in the earth’s crust that runs down to Lake Malawi and beyond and provide hundreds of thousand of animals with both a sanctuary and feeding ground.

Lake Turkana

The “Jade Sea”, is the largest of the Rift Valley lakes and stretches from the Ethiopian border to the Suguta Valley. Infested with Nile crocodile and huge Nile perch there are very few places from which to view this barren landscape and so it gets very few visitors to its shores. Often mistaken as a soda lake, it is actually freshwater, although can be so salty in parts that it sustains only the hardiest of animals. The best way to view the mesmerising formations and flows is undoubtedly from the air on a helicopter safari.

Lake Victoria

As the name suggests, Lake Vicrtoris has long been synonymous with colonial explorers such as Speke and Burton, who believed it to be the source of the Nile. Today the lake is far removed from its adventurous history and is a quiet retreat from the heat and bustle of the nearby Masai Mara. Bordered on three sides by Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya, Wianm Gulf and the islands of Mfangano, Kisumu and Rusinga provide beautiful surrounds from which to explore, fish and relax.

Nakuru

A shallow soda lake, circumnavigable in 3 hours, and an international RAMSAR site, lake Nakuru is a protected habitat for vast populations of greater and lesser flamingo. While the park that surrounds the lake is very small it is also possible to see white rhino, bushbuck, occasional sightings for black rhino, leopard and Rothschild giraffe. Only a couple of hours drive from Nairobi it is a popular day trip or one night stop on a larger itinerary.

Naivasha

A fresh water neighbour to Nakuru and also a RAMSAR site with similarly vast populations of birds. Generally the lodges for the park are based over to the western side of the lake as they can then also be used as a base for visiting the nearby Hell’s Gate Park which has probably the best walking and rock climbing in the country.