Deep in the heart of Southern Kenya’s Masai land is the unearthly Lake Magadi. This 104 sq km soda lake is completely surrounded by vast natural salt flats. These sweltering hot plains prevent any animals reaching the alkaline lake at its centre.

For this reason, thousands of flamingo descend on the lake each year to nest on elevated mud mounds at the lake’s edge safe from any potential predators. Freshwater springs at the Lake’s shore attract a host of other birds.

The baking salt plains stretch into horizons of shimmering heat haze, while the shallow lake heaves with the pink waves of nesting flamingo. The otherworldly atmosphere is compounded by the intense heat and the isolation.

Magadi is often the final destination for treks from the Nguruman escarpment or the Loita hills.

Lake Mburo National Park (LMNP) is a very special place; every part of it is alive with variety, interest and colour. LMNP contains an extensive area of wetland. The park harbours several species of mammals including zebras, impalas, elands, topi and buffaloes. The bird population includes the rare Shoebill stork. Its sculptured landscape with rolling grassy hills and idyllic lakeshores has a varied mosaic of habitats: forest galleries, rich acacia tree valleys, seasonal and permanent swamps which all support a wealth of wildlife. The park is only 370sq km and the smallest of Uganda’s savannah national parks. Its mosaic habitat: dry hillside, rocky outcrops, bushes, thickets, open and wooded savannahs, forests, lakes and swamps are home to a surprising diversity of plants and animals. Location: Lake Mburo National Park is situated in Mbarara district. It is about 3.5 hours drive from Kampala. The park is accessed from the Masaka-Mbarara road; turn left to Nshara gate (13kms past Lyantonde) or alternatively turn left at Sanga trading centre (27kms past Lyantonde) which brings you through Sanga gate. Both junctions have clearly marked signposts. It is about13 km from Sanga trading centre to Sanga gate and 8 km from the main road to Nshara gate. It is about 20 minutes drive from either gates to Rwonyo park headquarters. Flora and Fauna: Lake Mburo National Park is famous for its richness in biodiversity. It has about 68different species of mammals. The common ones are zebras, impalas, buffaloes, topis and elands that are herbivores and leopards, hyena and jackals that are predators. The park also has more than 325 different species of birds including the rare Shoebill stork, papyrus yellow warbler, African fin foot, Saddle billed stork, Brown chested wattled plover, carruther’s cristicola, tabora cristicola, Great snipe, Abyssinian ground hornbill and White winged warbler. The woody vegetation of Lake Mburo is dominated by Acacia species, Olea species and Boscia species. Conservation Education Centre: The park has a conservation education centre, just about 1 km from Sanga gate. It has a decent accommodation and a hall with maximum capacity of forty people and caters for school groups, visitors, seminars or workshops. Accommodation: The park has accommodation facilities which include six tents at Rwonyo park headquarters and three public campsites, all strategically located to facilitate and enhance scenic viewing and easy access to water. Lake Mburo restaurant, located by the lakeside, provides meals on order. Mantana Tented Camp which is 3.5 km from Rwonyo park headquarters caters for the up market tourists. Interpretation Centre: The Interpretation Centre is located at Rwonyo hill. Literature about the park history, biodiversity and other resources including the scenic beauty is available at the Interpretation Centre, which also serves as a starting point for nature walks. Game Drives: The park has a number of tourist tracks that are used for game drives. Impala track exposes the visitor to a diverse species of animals. Impala is the most common species viewed along this track although one may sight a number of waterbucks, warthogs, topis and zebras. Zebra track leads to harems of Burchell’s zebra (Equus burchelli) with other species like bushbucks, oribi and reedbucks. The zebra track leads to the junction of Ruroko track, a drive through a wetland basin and thick acacia shrub and woodland, with olive trees and euphorbia species. Kopjes (rock outcrops) found along the Ruroko track, are home to elusive klipspringers to which the rock is the best habitat.. The Kazuma track passes through wooded grassland where black-bellied bustards often patrol the area. For visitors to experience a real exposure of Lake Mburo National Park, they should climb Kazuma hill, which is high enough to enable them to see what they could have missed. The five lakes within the park and the rolling hills become more visible and attractive. Its better seen than read or heard!. Kigambira loop takes you through a wooded wilderness with scattered thicket and while you are here, look out for bushbucks and bush duikers.. The Lakeside track is specially designed to facilitate viewing of water plants and animals. The park has a diversity of water birds and woodland birds which can be sighted along these tracks. Rubanga Forest: This forest offers a variety of habitats, conducive for birds thereby making it a very attractive place for bird watchers. There are over 40 species of birds recorded in Rubanga forest, five of which are forest “specialists”. Some of the common species are the Harrier hawk, Greenpigeon, Narina trogn, Grey-backed cameroptera and Double-toothed barbet. The forest, though small, is a real high forest with closed canopy. Some common trees are markhamia platycalyx, sapium, erythriana and acacia. Boat Trips: The presence of Lake Mburo within the park is a blessing. The lake is rich with a diversity of animal and plant species, which can only be viewed clearly while on a boat trip. These include crocodiles, hippopotami and birds like Pelicans, Black crake, Heron, Cormorant and Fish eagle but you may also see the rare Shoebill stork, all of which will furnish your visit with pride.. The duration of each boat ride is 2 hours maximum, but arrangements for extra time can be made with management at an extra fee. Guided Walks: Nature Trail. The nature trail offers the visitor a chance to admire nature insite. Visitors have the opportunity to walk in the circuit at their own pace in company of an armed guide. Information on trails is also available.. Salt Lick. A walk to the nearby salt lick is a climax of it all. A strategically located wooden platform (Observation point) offers a chance to see at least four different species of animals at any one time while they lick the salty soil. The observation point is strategically located in such a way that close observation can be done without distracting the animals from their salt licking. Fishing: Lake Mburo has about 6 species of fish, the common one being tilapia (Oreochromis leucostictus). Visitors planning to enjoy sport fishing on Lake Mburo should carry their own fishing gear and fish at the designated point at Mazinga. A restaurant is available at Campsite 2 to ensure maximum relaxation for visitors while at the lake.

Mbarara is an important trading center and crossroads for travellers towards the Rwenzori Mountains and Kabale. It is the center of the Kingdom of the Ankole, and also home to one of Ugandas new universities.

Lake Natron is an unspoiled alkaline lake at the foot of Oldonyo Lengai, a still active volcano, in Northern Tanzania. The lake is quite shallow, less than three meters (10 feet) deep. The lake is the most important breeding area of the lesser flamingo in Eastern Africa and large quantities of these beautiful and unique birds make it a spectacular place. The area of Lake Natron is stunning and dramatic.

Lake Elementaita lies east of Lake Nakuru and is surrounded by private ranching land. Soysambu Wildlife Sanctuary gives visitors a chance to spend time on the shores of this previously inaccessible alkaline Rift Valley lake, home, at certain times of year, to thousands of lesser and greater flamingo, Kenya's only breeding population of Great White Pelicans and a myriad of other water birds. The Sanctuary encompasses the northern, western and southern shores of the lake which are surrounded by acacia bush, yellow fever tree forests and open grassland. Buffalo, zebra, eland, gazelle, waterbuck, jackal, lion, cheetah and leopard are just some of the many species of game to be seen.

Location

Lake Bogoria lies just south of Lake Baringo but contrasts sharply with Baringo's green and lush surroundings. This soda lake, with its shores of hot springs, boiling geysers and steam jets, stark evidence of the volcanic origins of the Rift Valley, lies hidden behind ridge after ridge of barren stony scrubland.
Although primarily scenic, Bogoria is by no means devoid of wildlife. Birds are plentiful and, at times, when the waters of Lake Nakuru are low, thousands of flamingo make this their home. On the north-eastern shore the elusive Greater Kudu can be found. Lake Bogoria National Reserve is owned and managed by Baringo County Council with assistance from KWS. The reserve covers 114 km2 and is famous for spectacular hotsprings and geysers. To the east of the reserve is the scenic Siracho escarpment that descends steeply to the lake shore.

Lake Victoria is the world's second largest freshwater lake covering an area of 67,850 square kilometres. This vast expanse forms the main headwaters of the River Nile. Three nations share the waters of Victoria - Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. The Lake once had an abundance of hippo and crocodile but these are now much reduced. Tilapia, Nile Perch and several other species of fish provide an income for the fleets of fishing canoes and boats which sell their catches at markets along the Lake's coast.

Lake Baringo lies in the solitude of the semi-desert of the northern Rift Valley, a haven of beauty in harsh, rugged but majestic surroundings. In this fresh water lake hippo and crocodile abound but most visitors are entranced by the multitude of birds with over 400 species having been identified. Bird watching is by boat or on foot. The area is home to the Njemps tribe and a visit to a local Njemps village can easily be arranged to watch traditional crafts being made and tribal dancing.

Lake Turkana is the largest lake in Kenya and runs south from the Ethiopian border for about 250kms, in a long narrow body of water, never more than 50 kms wide. There are three major volcanic islands, North, South and Central Islands, set in a string down the middle of the lake. The water is slightly alkaline, and lake Turkana's green waters - sometimes referred to as the 'Jade sea' - make a bright contrast to the desolate countryside. Located in the far north of Kenya, the surrounding country is harsh desert, rocky and dusty. To the south of the lake lies Teleki Volcano, and to the east, Kulal mountain, which is topped with cedar forests, and from which the notorious winds blow across the lake. The lake is home to the largest population of Nile crocodile in the world, about 20,000, and there are Nile perch, tiger fish and some tilapia. There is a profusion of birdlife, including many migrants. On the eastern side of the lake lies Sibiloi National Park, where you can see the fossilised forest, and visit the prehistoric site at Koobi Fora.

The highest and purest of the Great Rift Valley lakes, Lake Naivasha lies approximately 80 kms west of Nairobi on the floor of the rift. The Lake shores are lined with fertile and flourishing horticultural farms and thousands of yellow barked acacias. Naivasha is home to more than 340 species of birds, has a resident population of hippo and small herds of plains game are found all around the shores. Bird and game viewing is by boat or on foot. The lakeshore was, for many years, the home of the late authoress Joy Adamson and it was here that she first raised Elsa, the lioness. Mount Longonot, an extinct volcano, lies just east of the lake. The popular Hell's Gate National Park is to the south east of the lake, and is home to the rarest of Kenya's vulture population, the Lammergeyer, which nests on the cliffs. For further information on Lake Naivasha please visit www.lakenaivasha.org