Lake Elementaita Wildlife Sanctuary

Lake Elementaita Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the beautiful Kenya safari destinations that travelers can get to explore while on a Kenya wildlife safari.

Lake Elementaita Wildlife Sanctuary is located 120km northwest of the capital city Nairobi, which is only about 3 hours away. Lake Elementaita Wildlife Sanctuary lies between Lake Naivasha and Lake Nakuru. Lake Elementaita is only about 40km north of Lake Naivasha and only about 45km south of Lake Nakuru. The nearest town is Gilgil which is also within Nakuru County.

Lake Elementaita Wildlife Sanctuary was gazetted as a National Wildlife Sanctuary in 2010, listed together with both Lake Nakuru and Lake Bogoria, making part of the Kenya Lakes System in the Great Rift Valley. Lake Elementaita Wildlife Sanctuary was also gazetted as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2011.

The area around Lake Elementaita was in 1999 designated an Important Bird Area (IBA), an area of global significance for bird and biodiversity conservation; and a Ramsar Site wetland of international importance in 2005.

Lake Elementaita Wildlife Sanctuary has an alkaline lake, Lake Elementaita, which is a huge attraction in the area. Like any other alkaline lake, Lake Elementaita has an ecology of Elementaita is greatly influenced by rain and water levels. This therefore means that when the abundance of these food sources declines, wildlife species like birds then prefer other Kenya soda lakes where food is much easier to locate. With this, there is a seasonality to some wildlife species in Lake Elementaita Wildlife Sanctuary, say the number of flamingos and pelicans. Regardless however even in the less-than-optimum conditions Lake Elementaita Wildlife Sanctuary is a birder’s paradise.

There are over 450 birds in Lake Elementaita Wildlife Sanctuary including migratory birds from Europe and other locations from north of Africa. Some of the Lake Elementaita Wildlife Sanctuary birds that travelers can see include flamingos, geese, spikes, cormorant, Kingfishers, Montane white-eye, Northern Puffback, Pallid harrier, Red-capped lark, Pelicans, Long-tailed widowbird, Maccoa duck, Rupell’s vulture, Schalow’s wheatear, shining sunbird, slender-billed greenbul, ducks, among so many others.

Apart from birds in Lake Elementaita Wildlife Sanctuary, there are other attractions that travelers would enjoy exploring and encountering. Kikopey hot springs can be found at the Lake Elementaita Wildlife Sanctuary. The surrounding acacia woodlands and bushy plains have a number of euphorbia trees as well as contain a number of wildlife. Animals in Lake Elementaita Wildlife Sanctuary include elands, buffaloes, common zebras, reedbuck, impalas, bushbuck, leopards, lions, hyenas and jackals among so many others.

Lake Elementaita Wildlife Sanctuary
Lake Elementaita Wildlife Sanctuary

A number of Lake Elementaita Wildlife Sanctuary activities that travelers can enjoy include;

  • Birding – with over 450 birds in Lake Elementaita Wildlife Sanctuary, birding is one of the many activities that travelers can enjoy for an opportunity to spot a number of them.
  • Nature Walks – a nature walk is one of the best way to explore the sanctuary in detail, taking you through woods and grasslands and scenic views of the lake and all that surrounding. Look out for various wildlife while on a nature walk in Lake Elementaita Wildlife Sanctuary.
  • Game Drives- game drives in Lake Elementaita Wildlife Sanctuary can be dome all throughout the day, as well as night for a chance to spot out more wildlife in the area.
  • Camping – Lake Elementaita Wildlife Sanctuary provides an amazing camp out experience for travelers after experiencing the African night-sky in the midst of the busy wilderness.
  • Bush Dining – this can also be done by travelers after the experience; having a meal in the wilderness as you enjoy the beautiful views of the lake waters.
  • Explore Kikopey hot springs.

How to get to Lake Elementaita Wildlife Sanctuary

Travelers can get to Lake Elementaita Wildlife Sanctuary by both road and air. By road, Lake Elementaita Wildlife Sanctuary is approximately 120km north of Nairobi, 40km north of Lake Naivasha and 45km south of Lake Nakuru. Lake Elementaita Wildlife Sanctuary can be easily accessed by the Trans-African Highway (A104).

Best time to Visit Lake Elementaita Wildlife Sanctuary

Lake Elementaita Wildlife Sanctuary can be visited all throughout the year. The best time to visit however is during the dry season in the months of June through October and January and February. The month of April is especially great for flamingo watching.

Where to Stay in Lake Elementaita Wildlife Sanctuary

There are a number of accommodation in and around Lake Elementaita Wildlife Sanctuary that travelers can opt to stay at including Elementaita Serena, Sunbird Lodge, and Sleeping Warrior among so many others.

A Lake Elementaita Wildlife Sanctuary safari or trip is one of the things to include in your Kenya safari tour. You can include Lake Elementaita even if fir just a day on your Kenya safari tour including Lake Nakuru National Park, Lake Naivasha, Hell’s Gate National Park, among so much more.

Get in touch with a trusted tour operator to help you pitch an amazing Kenya safari tour including a detour of Lake Elementaita Wildlife Sanctuary!

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