Lake Baringo
Lake Baringo is part of the Great Rift Valley, the Earth’s great scar, which in Kenya is fringed by a string of lakes. After the huge Turkana, Baringo is the northernmost and the largest, with 130 km. Together with Naivasha, Baringo offers the only freshwater shallow in the Kenyan Rift. This is the traditional home of the Njemps tribe, a unique people who are the only pastoral, cattle herding, tribe who also fish. Among other pastoral tribes such as the Maasai, eating fish is a taboo.
The 129 sq km lake is well stocked with fish, and attracts many Pelicans, Cormorants and Fish Eagles. The Lake is also well populated with Crocodile. The lake itself is truly beautiful, surrounded by volcanic ranges that stretch as far as the eye can see. At the lakes heart is Ol Kokwe Island, a stark rocky island that is home to Njemps villages and a well appointed camp. This is an excellent base for exploring the lake, with boat trips ideal for bird and hippo spotting.
Baringo is an ideal stopover on a safari to Northern Kenya.
Getting There
You can reach Baringo directly from Nakuru by bus or private transport. The nearest town to this lake is Kampi ya Samaki.
Getting Around
The lodges and caps here both organize local excursions. Boats can also be hired.
Related Travel Information
Lake Kariba
Lake Kariba is one of the largest man-made lakes in the world —180 miles (290 km) long and up to 20 miles (32 km) wide (see "Lake Kariba" in the Zimbabwe chapter for full details). The Zimbabwe (southern) side of the lake is currently more developed than the Zambia (northern) side of the lake. Canoe safaris are offered downstream of Kariba Dam through the Kariba Gorge.
Lake Ngami
Lake Ngami is a relic of the superlake that once covered much of northern Botswana. South of the Okavango Delta, the lake is now completely dry - except when fed by water from the flooded delta. When David Livingstone first saw this lake in 1849, however, he described it as more than 100 mi/160 km long. When wet, the Ngami is filled by an incredible number of water birds, including flamingos, eagles, storks and pelicans - it is one of the best bird-watching spots in the world. Before making the trip, be sure the lake has water; otherwise, there's
Lake Bogoria
At the beginning of Kenya's great Northern Wilderness lies Lake Bogoria.
The lake is the heart of an arid landscape, in the shadow of the dramatic walls of the Siracho Range. The soda waters of the lake attract massive flocks of Flamingo, and the lake is often carpeted with pink.
The 32 sq km lake is still volcanically active, and the Western shore is lined with spouting geysers, spurting steam and bubbling geothermal pools. Fresh water springs at the lake edge attract an abundance of birds and wildlife.
There are many Fish Eagles, which often prey on the local flamingos.
The shores
Lake Volta
Lake Volta is one of the world's largest artificially created lakes. Normally called as "Volta Lake” by the locals, it stretches more than 320 mi/520 km. The dam, near the village of Akosombo, was a monumental project that was fraught with problems but now provides electricity for much of the country. Don't take pictures of the dam. Its illegal to take photographs over there, so be cautious.
Lake Nakuru
Lake Nakuru is world famous for, and was created a National Park, to protect its stunning flocks of lesser flamingo, which literally turn its shores pink. Its birdlife is world renowned: a beacon for leading ornithologists, scientists and wildlife film-makers. The park spans an attractive range of wooded and bush grassland around the lake offering wide ecological diversity, from lake water, woodland to the rocky escarpments and ridges. Nakuru provides the visitor with one of Kenya's best known images. Thousands of flamingo, joined into a massive flock, fringe the shores of this soda lake. A pulsing pink swathe of
