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Lake Nakuru National Park
Lake Nakuru is a very shallow strongly alkaline lake 62 km2 in extent. It is set in a picturesque landscape of surrounding woodland and grassland next to Nakuru town. The landscape includes areas of marsh and grasslands alternating with rocky cliffs and outcrops, stretches of acacia woodland and rocky hillsides covered with a Euphorbia forest on the eastern perimeter.
The lake catchment is bounded by Menengai crater to the north, the Bahati hills to the north east, the lion hill ranges to the east, eburu crater to the south and the mau escarpment to the west. Three major rivers, the njoro, makalia and enderit drain into the lake, together with treated water from the town's sewage works and the outflow from several springs along the shore.
Lake Nakuru was first gazetted as a bird sanctuary in 1960 and upgraded to National Park status in 1968. A northern extension was added to the park in 1974 and the lake was designated as a Ramsar site in 1990. The foundation of the parks food chains is the cyanophyte spirulina platensis which can support huge numbers of lesser flamingo.
Maasai Mara
Masai Mara is Kenya’s most famous and most visited game reserve. Open savannahs, rolling grasslands and undulating hills sets the scene for the splendour of the Mara. July to September sees the annual migration of wildebeests, zebras and gazelles from the plains of the Serengeti. Driven by dry conditions in the Serengeti and led by the lightning and thunder to the north, huge herds of mammals cross the Tanzanian border and rivers to reach the Mara's grasslands.
They are tracked by elusive predators: black-manned lions, leopards, cheetahs, and hyenas, and circled by vultures as their journey unfolds. Tourists often find themselves amazed at the stark reality that unfolds as the herds cross the rivers. Other land mammals includes elephants, topi, impala, giraffe, gazelle, baboons, jackals, water buffalo, ostriches, antelope and more. The river banks and water-holes sees hippo, crocodile and abundant birdlife including herons, kestrels, corncrakes, bee-eaters, hornbills, shrikes, sunbirds and over 53 different types of birds of prey.
Tourists can also catch a glimpse of the traditional Masai culture. The Masa own the area toward the north. A proud and nomadic people the Masai have lived in harmony with nature for centuries. |
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