On our way to Nakuru, we passed Lake Elmenteita, the dormant volcano Mount Longonot and drove right around Lake Naivasha, said to be the most beautiful of the Rift Valley lakes, to try and get a good view of the lake from the public road. Really impressive were the flower and veggie hothouses which stretch for kilometres on end. Many of the farmers are of South African and Dutch origin.

Lake Nakuru Park was founded in 1961 to protect the greatest ornithological spectacle on earth. The Park features over a million flamingoes, over 400 migratory bird species from around the world and large flotillas of pelicans. There are two species of flamingoes, the Lesser with its deep red carmine bill and the Greater with its black tip. In 1990 Lake Nakuru was designated a Ramsar site, a protected wetlands of international importance.

Nakuru, meaning “Dust or Dusty Place” in the Maasai language, measures 188 km². The park has it all with the beautiful lake, sections of forested area, cliffs and mountains, animals, and the best part is it isn’t overrun with people. Sightings of buffalo are common.

We camped at the Backpackers public campsite just inside the main gate, which has lovely green lawns but turned out to be crowded and noisy due to a local team-building contingent that used a megaphone throughout the night. Entrance: US$50, Camping fees: $50 per person. Vehicle permit Ksh300.