Explore Lake Elementaita & Nakuru: Best Spots for Flamingo Watching in Kenya

Watching large flocks of pink flamingos is also a must-do on a Kenyan safari! It was really lively and spectacular to see the flamingos up close in large groups for the first time, and to watch them take off in circles.

📍We went to a relatively less-known lake, Lake Elementaita, because our guide told us that a large number of flamingos had already migrated there from other lakes. Our hotel, Serena Lake Elementaita, is right by the lake, so we could lie on the grass and see the large flocks of flamingos directly from the hotel. The rooms at this hotel are large suite-style tents, allowing you to see the outside scenery directly from the courtyard.

💡You can get out of the vehicle to see the flamingos, but don’t get too close to the lake, as the flamingos will shyly fly away! If you want to go deeper into the lake and see the flamingos up close, you can join the hotel’s horse-riding activity at your own expense. The horses can take you very close to the lake to see the flamingos!

🔆Our hotel and travel agency also arranged a sunset cocktail party with a great atmosphere for us. A singer played the guitar and sang under the sunset, and everyone stood on the hillside by the lake, watching the large flocks of flamingos in the lake while drinking and chatting, enjoying the incredibly soothing and colorful sunset! We even saw a rainbow!!

🟡I have to say, all our activities were really full of atmosphere. They even specially prepared a lakeside breakfast for us. Sitting by the lake early in the morning, watching the flamingos and the sunrise while having breakfast was very peaceful.

📍After about a 20-minute drive, we arrived at Lake Nakuru, where we could see one of the Big Five, the white rhinoceros, up close. We saw two rhino families grazing. There were also many birds, such as long-billed pelicans, fish eagles, and eagles. The moment when the national bird of Kenya (Figure 16) took flight was truly stunning! We also saw many new species of giraffes, the Rothschild’s giraffe, in this park.

💡Our luck once again amazed the guide! In just a few hours at Nakuru, we saw a lioness waiting to hunt a blackbuck (the clever blackbucks stopped eating and stared straight at the lion, then found the right moment to escape), and we even saw a leopard walking right in front of and beside our car!!!

Tips:
1️⃣If you want to see the flamingos, remember to ask an experienced guide in advance which lake they are currently at, to avoid missing the large flocks of pink flamingos.
2️⃣There are indeed quite a few small flying insects by the lake, which the guide called grass flies. They don’t bite, but they will swarm around you when you walk or ride by the lake, which can be quite unpleasant.

3️⃣When choosing a hotel and travel agency, make sure to check if they offer various activities with a good atmosphere. Most do not, but these activities are really engaging and provide a great romantic experience.