Another fantastic weekend

Lake Nakuru, Kenya

"Nakuru means "Dust or Dusty Place" in Maasai language. Lake Nakuru National Park, close to Nakuru town, was established in 1961. It started off small, only encompassing the famous lake and the surrounding mountainous vicinity. Now it has been extended to include a large part of the savannahs.

 Lake Nakuru, a small (it varies from 5 to 30 square kilometers) shallow alkaline lake on the edge of the town of Nakuru lies about 160 kilometers north of Nairobi. The lake is world famous as the location of the greatest bird spectacle on earth - myriads of fuschia pink flamingoes whose numbers are legion, often more than a million maybe two. They feed on the abundant algae, which thrives in the warm waters. The lake is rich in other birdlife. There are over 400 resident species on the lake and in the surrounding park. Lake Nakuru National Park, which surrounds the lake, has recently been enlarged partly to provide a sanctuary for the black rhino. This undertaking has necessitated a fence - to keep out poachers rather than to restrict the movement of wildlife. The park now has more than 25 rhinos, one of the largest concentrations in the country, so the chances of spotting these survivors are good. There are also a number of Rothschild's giraffe, again translocated for safety from western Kenya beginning in 1977. Waterbuck are very common and both the Kenya species are found here. Among the predators are lion & leopard, the latter being seen much more frequently in recent times. The park also has large sized python snakes that inhabit the dense woodlands, and can often be seen crossing the roads or dangling from trees." 

-http://www.africanmeccasafaris.com/kenya/safaris/parks/lakenakuru.asp

We stayed at the Sarova Lion Hill Game Lodge, which is within the park. This is the door to our room:

At night, they "turn down" the mosquito nets. There aren't many mosquitos, but they are fun to sleep under!

This is the view from one of the common areas at the Lodge

Complete with a fire pit!

and dancing!

with African Drummers!

After the performance  (Rochelle and Claire danced onstage, video lost…) we had dinner. Our napkins were in the shape of swans

The next morning, we started our game drive after hearty breakfast, around 8:30. Here are some pictures of what we saw

Zebra

  

 Egyptian Geese (geese in a tree?)

 A water buck

…An egret and a spoonbill fishing

 Buffalo

Ostrich

What a glorious day!

Looking out the upper part of the safari van

a baby impala!

A white RHINO!

The group: James, Rochelle, Ron, Maureen, Ginger and Claire

Baboons grooming

Here, the flamingoes are lining the coastline! 

Impala