Lake Bogoria National Reserve protects a dramatic alkaline lake in the Rift Valley, famous for its hot springs, geysers, and massive congregations of lesser flamingos. As water levels at Lake Nakuru have risen, many of the flamingos have relocated to Bogoria, making it now the best place in Kenya to witness these pink spectacles.
The lake’s western shore features a series of hot springs and geysers — some shooting boiling water several metres into the air. The surrounding landscape of semi-arid scrubland backed by the Laikipia Escarpment is hauntingly beautiful, with mineral-stained earth in shades of orange, white, and green.
Greater kudu, one of Kenya’s most elusive and beautiful antelopes, are found in the scrubland around the lake. Baboons, dik-dik, klipspringer, and over 135 bird species (beyond the flamingos) also inhabit the reserve.
Lake Bogoria can be visited as a day trip from Nakuru or as part of a wider Rift Valley lakes tour combining Nakuru, Naivasha, and Baringo. The hot springs area is particularly impressive in the early morning when steam clouds rise dramatically against the escarpment.