Lake Nakuru National Park

National Park · Kenya

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Photo © Daniel Case

Photo © Daniel Case — CC BY-SA 4.0 — Source: Wikimedia Commons

Alkaline waters ringed by acacia woodland and grassland create one of East Africa's most distinctive wetland ecosystems, where the interplay of geology and climate sustains a narrowly specialized but extraordinarily rich fauna. The park's shallow soda lake sits within a temperate highland zone—cool year-round with consistent moisture and no pronounced dry season—an unusual setting for a major African water body that transforms the character of life here. Wading birds congregate in vast numbers along the shoreline, their populations sustained by the lake's unique chemistry and the aquatic invertebrates that thrive in these alkaline conditions. Raptors patrol the open terrain, while the surrounding woodland and grassland support antelope, smaller mammals, and a diverse avifauna adapted to this mosaic of habitats. The park's compact size belies its ecological significance: it functions as a critical stopover and refuge for migratory species and offers year-round residence to resident populations whose survival depends on the stability this climate-buffered sanctuary provides.

For wildlife photographers and birders, the park delivers an unmatched concentration of waterbirds in a single frame—a rarity that justifies its reputation as one of Africa's premier bird-watching destinations. The temperate climate means productive conditions persist throughout the year rather than concentrating species into brief seasonal windows, allowing visitors to plan with confidence regardless of the calendar. The shallow water and open terrain combine to create exceptional visibility and photographic opportunity; here, distance to subject is measured in meters rather than kilometers, and light bounces across the alkaline water with crystalline clarity. Early mornings reward the patient observer with peak activity among both residents and visitors, while the landscape's compact geography means that a single day in the park can yield sightings impossible in larger, more dispersed reserves. Access from the regional hub is straightforward, making this an essential stop for any serious wildlife itinerary in the East African highlands.

Sagittarius serpentarius

Polemaetus bellicosus

Struthio camelus

White-faced Whistling Duck

Dendrocygna viduata

Fulvous Whistling Duck

Dendrocygna bicolor

White-backed Duck

Thalassornis leuconotus

Knob-billed Duck

Sarkidiornis melanotos

Alopochen aegyptiaca

Spatula querquedula

Blue-billed Teal

Spatula hottentota

Northern Shoveler

Spatula clypeata

African Black Duck

Yellow-billed Duck

Red-billed Teal

Anas erythrorhyncha

Southern Pochard

Netta erythrophthalma

Helmeted Guineafowl

Numida meleagris

Coqui Francolin

Campocolinus coqui

Shelley's Francolin

Scleroptila shelleyi

Harlequin Quail

Coturnix delegorguei

Hildebrandt's Spurfowl

Pternistis hildebrandti

Hartlaub's Turaco

Tauraco hartlaubi

Black-bellied Bustard

Lissotis melanogaster

White-browed Coucal

Centropus superciliosus

Great Spotted Cuckoo

Clamator glandarius

Diederik Cuckoo

Chrysococcyx caprius

Chrysococcyx klaas

Cuculus clamosus

Red-chested Cuckoo

Cuculus solitarius

Cuculus gularis

Cuculus canorus

Speckled Pigeon

Streptopelia semitorquata

Ring-necked Dove

Streptopelia capicola

Spilopelia senegalensis

Emerald-spotted Wood Dove

Turtur chalcospilos

Rallus caerulescens

Paragallinula angulata

Gallinula chloropus

Red-knobbed Coot

Fulica cristata

Grey Crowned Crane

Balearica regulorum

Tachybaptus ruficollis

Greater Flamingo

Phoenicopterus roseus

Spotted Thick-knee

Burhinus capensis

Black-winged Stilt

Himantopus himantopus

Recurvirostra avosetta

Long-toed Lapwing

Vanellus crassirostris

Blacksmith Lapwing

Vanellus armatus

Spur-winged Lapwing

Vanellus spinosus

Crowned Lapwing

Vanellus coronatus

African Wattled Lapwing

Vanellus senegallus

Kittlitz's Plover

Anarhynchus pecuarius

Greater Painted-snipe

Rostratula benghalensis

Actophilornis africanus

Black-tailed Godwit

Gallinago gallinago

Red-necked Phalarope

Phalaropus lobatus

Common Sandpiper

Actitis hypoleucos

Green Sandpiper

Tringa ochropus

Marsh Sandpiper

Tringa stagnatilis

Tringa glareola

Spotted Redshank

Tringa erythropus

Common Greenshank

Tringa nebularia

Calidris pugnax

Curlew Sandpiper

Calidris ferruginea

Temminck's Stint

Calidris temminckii

Calidris minuta

Collared Pratincole

Glareola pratincola

Gull-billed Tern

Gelochelidon nilotica

Chlidonias hybrida

White-winged Tern

Chlidonias leucopterus

Black-headed Gull

Chroicocephalus ridibundus

Grey-headed Gull

Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus

Lesser Black-backed Gull

African Openbill

Anastomus lamelligerus

Leptoptilos crumenifer

Yellow-billed Stork

Saddle-billed Stork

Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis

Ciconia abdimii

Ciconia ciconia

Microcarbo africanus

Great Cormorant

Phalacrocorax carbo

African Sacred Ibis

Threskiornis aethiopicus

Bostrychia hagedash

Plegadis falcinellus

African Spoonbill

Black-crowned Night Heron

Nycticorax nycticorax

Egretta ardesiaca

Egretta garzetta

Ardeola ralloides

Yellow-billed Egret

Ardea brachyrhyncha

Black-headed Heron

Ardea melanocephala

Scopus umbretta

Great White Pelican

Pelecanus onocrotalus

Pink-backed Pelican

Pelecanus rufescens

Pandion haliaetus

Black-winged Kite

Elanus caeruleus

African Harrier-Hawk

Polyboroides typus

European Honey Buzzard

Pernis apivorus

Terathopius ecaudatus

Black-chested Snake Eagle

Circaetus pectoralis

Brown Snake Eagle

Circaetus cinereus

Long-crested Eagle

Lophaetus occipitalis

Micronisus gabar

Western Marsh Harrier

Circus aeruginosus

African Fish Eagle

Icthyophaga vocifer

Pearl-spotted Owlet

Glaucidium perlatum

Spotted Eagle-Owl

Verreaux's Eagle-Owl

Speckled Mousebird

Colius striatus

Green Wood Hoopoe

Phoeniculus purpureus

Common Scimitarbill

Rhinopomastus cyanomelas

Crowned Hornbill

Lophoceros alboterminatus

African Grey Hornbill

Lophoceros nasutus

Coracias naevius

Lilac-breasted Roller

Coracias caudatus

European Roller

Coracias garrulus

Broad-billed Roller

Eurystomus glaucurus

Grey-headed Kingfisher

Halcyon leucocephala

Striped Kingfisher

Halcyon chelicuti

Malachite Kingfisher

Corythornis cristatus

Giant Kingfisher

Megaceryle maxima

Pied Kingfisher

Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater

Merops oreobates

White-fronted Bee-eater

Merops bullockoides

White-throated Bee-eater

Merops albicollis

European Bee-eater

Merops apiaster

D'Arnaud's Barbet

Trachyphonus darnaudii

Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird

Pogoniulus bilineatus

Northern Red-fronted Tinkerbird

Pogoniulus uropygialis

White-headed Barbet

Lybius leucocephalus

Scaly-throated Honeyguide

Indicator variegatus

Greater Honeyguide

Indicator indicator

Nubian Woodpecker

Campethera nubica

Bearded Woodpecker

Chloropicus namaquus

Eastern Grey Woodpecker

Dendropicos spodocephalus

Falco tinnunculus

Falco biarmicus

Poicephalus meyeri

Yellow-collared Lovebird

Agapornis personatus

Grey-headed Bushshrike

Malaconotus blanchoti

Orange-breasted Bushshrike

Chlorophoneus sulfureopectus

Brown-crowned Tchagra

Tchagra australis

Black-crowned Tchagra

Tchagra senegalus

Black-backed Puffback

Dryoscopus cubla

Northern Puffback

Dryoscopus gambensis

Slate-colored Boubou

Laniarius funebris

Tropical Boubou

Laniarius major

White-crested Helmetshrike

Prionops plumatus

Black Cuckooshrike

Campephaga flava

Black-headed Oriole

Oriolus larvatus

Fork-tailed Drongo

Dicrurus adsimilis

African Paradise Flycatcher

Terpsiphone viridis

Grey-backed Fiscal

Lanius excubitoroides

Northern Fiscal

Lanius humeralis

Red-backed Shrike

Lanius collurio

Corvus capensis

White-necked Raven

Corvus albicollis

White-bellied Tit

Melaniparus albiventris

Red-capped Lark

Calandrella cinerea

Pycnonotus barbatus

Psalidoprocne pristoptera

Brown-throated Martin

Riparia paludicola

Red-throated Rock Martin

Ptyonoprogne rufigula

Hirundo rustica

Wire-tailed Swallow

Hirundo smithii

Western House Martin

Delichon urbicum

African Red-rumped Swallow

Cecropis melanocrissus

Cecropis senegalensis

Red-faced Crombec

Sylvietta whytii

Phylloscopus trochilus

Rattling Cisticola

Cisticola chiniana

Winding Cisticola

Cisticola marginatus

Tawny-flanked Prinia

Prinia subflava

Buff-bellied Warbler

Phyllolais pulchella

Yellow-breasted Apalis

Grey-capped Warbler

Arrow-marked Babbler

Turdoides jardineii

Black-lored Babbler

Turdoides sharpei

Wattled Starling

Creatophora cinerea

Greater Blue-eared Starling

Lamprotornis chalybaeus

Rüppell's Starling

Lamprotornis purpuroptera

Superb Starling

Lamprotornis superbus

Hildebrandt's Starling

Lamprotornis hildebrandti

Violet-backed Starling

Cinnyricinclus leucogaster

Red-winged Starling

Onychognathus morio

Yellow-billed Oxpecker

Buphagus africanus

Red-billed Oxpecker

Buphagus erythroryncha

Abyssinian Thrush

Turdus abyssinicus

Pale Flycatcher

Agricola pallidus

White-eyed Slaty Flycatcher

Melaenornis fischeri

Empidornis semipartitus

African Grey Flycatcher

Bradornis microrhynchus

African Dusky Flycatcher

Muscicapa adusta

Spotted Flycatcher

Muscicapa striata

White-browed Robin-Chat

Cossypha heuglini

Rüppell's Robin-Chat

Cossypha semirufa

Cape Robin-Chat

Dessonornis caffer

Little Rock Thrush

Monticola rufocinereus

Saxicola rubetra

African Stonechat

Saxicola torquatus

Mocking Cliff Chat

Thamnolaea cinnamomeiventris

Myrmecocichla aethiops

Isabelline Wheatear

Oenanthe isabellina

Oenanthe pleschanka

Abyssinian Wheatear

Oenanthe lugubris

Collared Sunbird

Hedydipna collaris

Amethyst Sunbird

Chalcomitra amethystina

Scarlet-chested Sunbird

Chalcomitra senegalensis

Nectarinia kilimensis

Golden-winged Sunbird

Drepanorhynchus reichenowi

Cinnyris mariquensis

Variable Sunbird

Cinnyris venustus

Chestnut Sparrow

Passer eminibey

Passer rufocinctus

Northern Grey-headed Sparrow

Parrot-billed Sparrow

Passer gongonensis

White-browed Sparrow-Weaver

Plocepasser mahali

Grey-capped Social Weaver

Pseudonigrita arnaudi

Thick-billed Weaver

Amblyospiza albifrons

Baglafecht Weaver

Ploceus baglafecht

Spectacled Weaver

Ploceus ocularis

Vitelline Masked Weaver

Ploceus vitellinus

Ploceus cucullatus

Golden-backed Weaver

Ploceus jacksoni

Chestnut Weaver

Ploceus rubiginosus

Red-headed Weaver

Anaplectes rubriceps

Red-billed Quelea

Euplectes capensis

White-winged Widowbird

Euplectes albonotatus

Long-tailed Widowbird

Euplectes progne

Bronze Mannikin

Spermestes cucullata

Yellow-bellied Waxbill

Coccopygia quartinia

Estrilda astrild

Crimson-rumped Waxbill

Estrilda rhodopyga

Cut-throat Finch

Amadina fasciata

Purple Grenadier

Granatina ianthinogaster

Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu

Uraeginthus bengalus

Red-billed Firefinch

Lagonosticta senegala

African Firefinch

Lagonosticta rubricata

Village Indigobird

Vidua chalybeata

Pin-tailed Whydah

Long-tailed Paradise Whydah

Vidua paradisaea

Western Yellow Wagtail

Motacilla flava

Mountain Wagtail

Motacilla clara

African Pied Wagtail

Motacilla aguimp

Yellow-throated Longclaw

Macronyx croceus

Rosy-throated Longclaw

Macronyx ameliae

Anthus cinnamomeus

Plain-backed Pipit

Anthus leucophrys

Red-throated Pipit

Anthus cervinus

Reichenow's Seedeater

Crithagra reichenowi

Brimstone Canary

Crithagra sulphurata

Streaky Seedeater

Crithagra striolata

Spur-winged Goose

Plectropterus gambensis

Northern Pintail

Crested Francolin

Ortygornis sephaena

Coturnix coturnix

Pternistis squamatus

Yellow-necked Spurfowl

Pternistis leucoscepus

Sombre Nightjar

Caprimulgus fraenatus

Montane Nightjar

Caprimulgus poliocephalus

Freckled Nightjar

Caprimulgus tristigma

Slender-tailed Nightjar

Caprimulgus clarus

African Palm Swift

Cypsiurus parvus

Tachymarptis melba

African Black Swift

White-rumped Swift

White-bellied Go-away-bird

Crinifer leucogaster

White-bellied Bustard

Eupodotis senegalensis

Blue-headed Coucal

Centropus monachus

Levaillant's Cuckoo

Clamator levaillantii

Clamator jacobinus

Thick-billed Cuckoo

Pachycoccyx audeberti

African Emerald Cuckoo

Chrysococcyx cupreus

Yellow-throated Sandgrouse

Pterocles gutturalis

African Olive Pigeon

Columba arquatrix

Dusky Turtle Dove

Streptopelia lugens

Blue-spotted Wood Dove

Tambourine Dove

Turtur tympanistria

African Green Pigeon

Black-necked Grebe

Podiceps nigricollis

Lesser Flamingo

Phoeniconaias minor

Water Thick-knee

Burhinus vermiculatus

Black-winged Lapwing

Vanellus melanopterus

Anarhynchus asiaticus

Eurasian Curlew

Numenius arquata

Terek Sandpiper

Common Redshank

Ruddy Turnstone

Arenaria interpres

Temminck's Courser

Cursorius temminckii

African Skimmer

Rynchops flavirostris

Hydroprogne caspia

Lesser Crested Tern

Thalasseus bengalensis

Slender-billed Gull

Chroicocephalus genei

African Woolly-necked Stork

Ciconia microscelis

Western Reef Heron

Egretta gularis

Malagasy Pond Heron

Scissor-tailed Kite

Chelictinia riocourii

Palm-nut Vulture

Gypohierax angolensis

African Cuckoo-Hawk

Aviceda cuculoides

Lappet-faced Vulture

Torgos tracheliotos

Necrosyrtes monachus

White-backed Vulture

Macheiramphus alcinus

Stephanoaetus coronatus

Lesser Spotted Eagle

Clanga pomarina

Greater Spotted Eagle

Wahlberg's Eagle

Hieraaetus wahlbergi

Ayres's Hawk-Eagle

Hieraaetus ayresii

Hieraaetus pennatus

Aquila nipalensis

African Hawk-Eagle

Aquila spilogaster

Verreaux's Eagle

Aquila verreauxii

Dark Chanting Goshawk

Melierax metabates

Eastern Chanting Goshawk

Melierax poliopterus

Ovambo Sparrowhawk

Accipiter ovampensis

Circus macrourus

Montagu's Harrier

Circus pygargus

African Marsh Harrier

Circus ranivorus

Grasshopper Buzzard

Butastur rufipennis

Mountain Buzzard

Buteo oreophilus

Western Barn Owl

White-headed Mousebird

Colius leucocephalus

Blue-naped Mousebird

Urocolius macrourus

Apaloderma narina

White-headed Wood Hoopoe

Phoeniculus bollei

Abyssinian Scimitarbill

Rhinopomastus minor

Southern Ground Hornbill

Bucorvus leadbeateri

Northern Red-billed Hornbill

Tockus erythrorhynchus

Von der Decken's Hornbill

Hemprich's Hornbill

Lophoceros hemprichii

Silvery-cheeked Hornbill

Bycanistes brevis

African Pygmy Kingfisher

Little Bee-eater

Merops pusillus

Blue-cheeked Bee-eater

Merops persicus

Olive Bee-eater

Merops superciliosus

Northern Carmine Bee-eater

Red-and-yellow Barbet

Trachyphonus erythrocephalus

Red-fronted Barbet

Tricholaema diademata

Spot-flanked Barbet

Tricholaema lacrymosa

Green-backed Honeybird

Prodotiscus zambesiae

Brown-backed Honeybird

Prodotiscus regulus

Pallid Honeyguide

Indicator meliphilus

Lesser Honeyguide

Indicator minor

Red-throated Wryneck

Jynx ruficollis

Cardinal Woodpecker

Dendropicos fuscescens

Greater Kestrel

Falco rupicoloides

Falco ardosiaceus

Falco amurensis

Peregrine Falcon

Falco peregrinus

Red-fronted Parrot

Poicephalus gulielmi

Black-throated Wattle-eye

Platysteira peltata

Grey-crested Helmetshrike

Prionops poliolophus

Grey Cuckooshrike

Ceblepyris caesius

African Golden Oriole

Oriolus auratus

Eurasian Golden Oriole

Oriolus oriolus

Northern White-crowned Shrike

Eurocephalus ruppelli

Long-tailed Fiscal

Lanius cabanisi

Lesser Grey Shrike

Isabelline Shrike

Lanius isabellinus

Red-tailed Shrike

Lanius phoenicuroides

Red-throated Tit

Melaniparus fringillinus

Grey Penduline Tit

Anthoscopus caroli

Fischer's Sparrow-Lark

Eremopterix leucopareia

Fawn-colored Lark

Calendulauda africanoides

Northern Brownbul

Phyllastrephus strepitans

White-headed Saw-wing

Psalidoprocne albiceps

Grey-rumped Swallow

Pseudhirundo griseopyga

Neophedina cincta

Riparia riparia

Hirundo angolensis

Lesser Striped Swallow

Cecropis abyssinica

Lesser Swamp Warbler

Acrocephalus gracilirostris

Acrocephalus schoenobaenus

Common Reed Warbler

Acrocephalus scirpaceus

African Yellow Warbler

Iduna natalensis

Eastern Olivaceous Warbler

Singing Cisticola

Cisticola cantans

Hunter's Cisticola

Cisticola hunteri

Lynes's Cisticola

Cisticola distinctus

Stout Cisticola

Cisticola robustus

Short-winged Cisticola

Cisticola brachypterus

Zitting Cisticola

Cisticola juncidis

Desert Cisticola

Cisticola aridulus

Pectoral-patch Cisticola

Cisticola brunnescens

Grey Wren-Warbler

Calamonastes simplex

Yellow-bellied Eremomela

Eremomela icteropygialis

Eurasian Blackcap

Sylvia atricapilla

Banded Parisoma

Common Whitethroat

Curruca communis

Northern Yellow White-eye

Zosterops senegalensis

Turdoides plebejus

Northern Pied Babbler

Turdoides hypoleuca

Slender-billed Starling

Onychognathus tenuirostris

White-browed Scrub Robin

Cercotrichas leucophrys

Southern Black Flycatcher

Melaenornis pammelaina

Spotted Palm Thrush

Cichladusa guttata

Thrush Nightingale

Luscinia luscinia

Common Nightingale

Luscinia megarhynchos

Common Rock Thrush

Monticola saxatilis

Northern Wheatear

Oenanthe oenanthe

Capped Wheatear

Oenanthe pileata

Green-headed Sunbird

Cyanomitra verticalis

Tacazze Sunbird

Nectarinia tacazze

Malachite Sunbird

Nectarinia famosa

Northern Double-collared Sunbird

Cinnyris reichenowi

Beautiful Sunbird

Cinnyris pulchellus

Yellow-spotted Bush Sparrow

Gymnoris pyrgita

Swahili Sparrow

Passer suahelicus

Passer domesticus

Red-billed Buffalo Weaver

Bubalornis niger

Speckle-fronted Weaver

Sporopipes frontalis

Holub's Golden Weaver

Ploceus xanthops

Northern Masked Weaver

Ploceus taeniopterus

Lesser Masked Weaver

Ploceus intermedius

Cardinal Quelea

Quelea cardinalis

Yellow-crowned Bishop

Red-cowled Widowbird

Euplectes laticauda

Jackson's Widowbird

Euplectes jacksoni

Black-and-white Mannikin

Spermestes bicolor

African Silverbill

Euodice cantans

Ortygospiza atricollis

Blue-capped Cordon-bleu

Uraeginthus cyanocephalus

Green-winged Pytilia

Straw-tailed Whydah

Motacilla capensis

Motacilla cinerea

Tmetothylacus tenellus

Long-billed Pipit

Anthus trivialis

Crithagra citrinelloides

White-bellied Canary

Crithagra dorsostriata

Thick-billed Seedeater

Crithagra burtoni

Yellow-crowned Canary

Serinus flavivertex

Cinnamon-breasted Bunting

Emberiza tahapisi

Golden-breasted Bunting

Emberiza flaviventris

Mourning Collared Dove

Streptopelia decipiens

American Flamingo

Phoenicopterus ruber

Black-rumped Buttonquail

Asian Woolly-necked Stork

Ciconia episcopus

Butorides striata

Southern Red-fronted Tinkerbird

Pogoniulus pusillus

African Grey Woodpecker

Dendropicos goertae

Fischer's Lovebird

Agapornis fischeri

Ethiopian Boubou

Laniarius aethiopicus

Southern Fiscal

Lanius collaris

Large Rock Martin

Ptyonoprogne fuligula

Eastern Red-rumped Swallow

Cecropis daurica

Levaillant's Cisticola

Cisticola tinniens

Aberdare Cisticola

Cisticola aberdare

Croaking Cisticola

Cisticola natalensis

Long-tailed Glossy Starling

Lamprotornis caudatus

Ploceus capensis

Violet Wood Hoopoe

Phoeniculus damarensis

Black Rhinoceros

Diceros bicornis

Crocuta crocuta

Common Hippopotamus

Hippopotamus amphibius

Southern Tree Hyrax

Dendrohyrax arboreus

Procavia capensis

Chlorocebus pygerythrus

Colobus guereza

African Grass Rat

Arvicanthis niloticus

Black-backed Jackal

Lupulella mesomelas

Otocyon megalotis

Common Slender Mongoose

Herpestes sanguineus

White-tailed Mongoose

Ichneumia albicauda

Aepyceros melampus

Thomson's Gazelle

Eudorcas thomsonii

Grant's Gazelle

Naivasha Dik-dik

Madoqua cavendishi

Kobus ellipsiprymnus

Southern Bushbuck

Tragelaphus sylvaticus

Phacochoerus africanus

Cercopithecus mitis

Tragelaphus oryx

Papio cynocephalus

Panthera pardus

White Rhinoceros

Ceratotherium simum

Syncerus caffer

Northern Giraffe

Giraffa camelopardalis

Giraffa tippelskirchi

Potamochoerus larvatus

Blue Wildebeest

Connochaetes taurinus

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