LAKE NAIVASHA NATIONAL PARK
KENYA
LOCALE
| Area (ha): | 23,600 |
| Altitude (m): | 1890 |
| # Species: | 515 |
| # Excl Vagrants: | 515 |
| # Endemics: | 2 |
| # Near Endemics: | 8 |
| Species/100 ha: | 2.2 |
| Habitat: Freshwater lake, Acacia woodland | |
ABOUT THE BIRDING
Lake Naivasha is a quite large (115 SqKm) freshwater lake surrounded by Acacia woodlands. The lake is about 13 km across but is very shallow, with an average depth of only 5 m. For this reason it is home to large numbers of Hippopotamus. The lake supports abundant bird life including the striking African Fish-Eagle. It's fringed by Papyrus swamps, which are home to several specialty birds such as Greater Swamp Warbler. The Acacia woodland is home to many bird species as well as Black-and-white Colobus Monkeys. Ellesmere Center, the former home of Joy and George Adamson, famed for their story 'Born Free', is located nearby. Ellesmere Center itself provides good birding habitat, and most birding tour groups stay there. Some 13 km away is Hell's Gate National Park, where birds such as Bearded Vulture and Verreaux's Eagle can be seen around the towering cliffs.
LOCATION OF SITE
Lake Naivasha is reached by the Naivasha-Nairobi Road, a fairly good paved road. It takes about 1½ hours driving non-stop.