LAKE BOGORIA
NATIONAL RESERVE FACTFILE
Dear
Visitor
On
behalf of the Government of Kenya, Baringo/Koibatek County Councils and my
staff, I hereby welcome you to the Bogoria national Reserve.
HISTORY
Until
recently this was named Lake Hannington, after an early bishop who explored the
area.
LOCATED
Longitude
36”04 – 36” 08 East
Latitude
0”11 – 0”20 North
SIZE
Its
area is 107 km sq (343 km sq covered by water)
ALTITUDE
From
1000 – 1670 m above sea level.
CLIMATE
Temperatures
18 – 40 degrees c
RAINFALL
600
– 900 mm/yearly at the escarpment
ANIMALS
Thousands
of Flamingoes, Greater Kudu, Impala, Buffalo, Zebras, Klipspringer, Leopards
etc
SCENIC
BEAUTY
Steam
jets, geysers along the southern lakeshore
Lake
Bogoria has been described in the past as the “jewel of the Rift Valley” and by
the words of Bishop Hannington at his first sight as “the most beautiful view
in Africa.” With the backdrop of the eastern wall of the Great Rift Valley, it
is a stunning beauty that has always enchanted its visitors. The contrast in
colours from the grasslands into the Lake and the sky above can only describe
the place as “nature’s studio.” Quote from anonymous traveller – London Evening
Post 1990.
Lake
Bogoria was gazetted 20th November 1973 as a National Reserve, and
was established by legal notice no. 270 of 12th October 1974 and a
boundary plan 216/26. It is 10 km north of the Equator and about 285 kms north
of Nairobi.
It
sits on the floor of the Eastern wall of the Great Rift Valley at an altitude
of 1000 m above sea level from which the escarpment forms one of Kenya’s most
picturesque backdrops.
It
has a closed drainage system meaning that the water is alkaline in nature and
supports only microscopic algae with no fish.
In
2000, Lake Bogoria was named as a third RAMAR site in Kenya.
NATURAL
ATTRACTIONS/WILDLIFE
It
is well known for its hot springs and geysers dotted all around the southern
shore of the lake. There are sulphur waters gushing out of the ground and known
to have therapeutic values, hence are natural spas and steam baths.
It
is the home of Africa’s most magnificent antelope, The Greater Kudu and a host
of other savannah wildlife: zebra, impala, Grants Gazelle, Klipspringer,
Buffalo, Dik-diks, Patas Monkey among others.
Predators
include Leopard, Cheetah, hyenas, mongoose, jackal, and occasionally sightings
of Karakul Cat.
In
the recent past it has become the most stable home of the lesser flamingoes
with a population sometimes approaching 2 million birds. This is in addition to
over 310 resident and 50 migratory species of birds. (A total of about 374 bird
species have been recorded.)
NB
most of the animals are seen early in the morning or in late afternoon due to
the hot weather conditions, which prevail in the area.
OPENING
HOURS of the gate is 6.00 am to 7.00 pm.
CAUTION
the hot spring water geyser are extremely hot – the water gushing out is at
boiling point and all esteemed visitors are forewarned to be extra careful
while in this part of the park.
ENTRY
CHARGES (ksh only)
Adults
(over 12) 200 1000
Child
(3 – 12) 20 100
Students 20 100
Primary
School 20
Secondary 30 600
Colleges 50
Adult
Party 100 600
Student
Party 20
Saloon 100
4wd 200
Minibus 400
Buses,
Trucks 500
Adults 100 200
Child 20 100
Home
video 2000
Commercial 12000
Features 20000
Documentary 8000
Please note these rates are subject to change without notice.
The
Senior Game Warden
Lake
Bogoria National Reserve, PO Box 64 Marigat
051 40746
It
is the home of Africa’s most magnificent antelope, The Greater Kudu and a host
of other savannah wildlife: zebra, impala, Grants Gazelle, Klipspringer,
Buffalo, Dik-diks, Patas Monkey among others.
Predators
include Leopard, Cheetah, hyenas, mongoose, jackal, and occasionally sightings
of Karakul Cat.
In
the recent past it has become the most stable home of the lesser flamingoes
with a population sometimes approaching 2 million birds. This is in addition to
over 310 resident and 50 migratory species of birds. (A total of about 374 bird
species have been recorded.)
NB
most of the animals are seen early in the morning or in late afternoon due to
the hot weather conditions, which prevail in the area.
OPENING
HOURS of the gate is 6.00 am to 7.00 pm.
CAUTION
the hot spring water geyser are extremely hot – the water gushing out is at
boiling point and all esteemed visitors are forewarned to be extra careful
while in this part of the park.
ENTRY
CHARGES (ksh only)
Adults
(over 12) 200 1000
Child
(3 – 12) 20 100
Students 20 100
Primary
School 20
Secondary 30 600
Colleges 50
Adult
Party 100 600
Student
Party 20
Saloon 100
4wd 200
Minibus 400
Buses,
Trucks 500
Adults 100 200
Child 20 100
Home
video 2000
Commercial 12000
Features 20000
Documentary 8000
Please note these rates are subject to change without notice.
The
Senior Game Warden
Lake
Bogoria National Reserve, PO Box 64 Marigat
051 40746