Common Animals in Lake Nakuru National Park : Lake Nakuru national park boasts over 50 mammal species calling the park home and thriving in the savanna vegetation, the rare euphorbia forest with a mixture of the acacia woodlands. Lake Nakuru national park is popularly known for the endangered rhinos. 4 of the big 5 and large numbers of flamingoes, Lake Nakuru national park is one of the best places in Kenya to see rhinos in the wild. The park hots roughly 100 – 150 rhino individuals in total, 80 % of these are white rhinos and 20% are black rhinos, Lake Nakuru national park is also strongly known for leopard sightings and other nocturnal animals
Animals in Lake Nakuru national park include rhinos (black and white rhinos), Rothschild giraffes, cape buffaloes, olive baboons, impalas, waterbucks, hippos, colobus monkeys, spotted hyenas, zebras, gazelles, leopards, lions, pythons among others.
Lake Nakuru national park is also a Rhino Sanctuary as it is a home to both black and white rhinos, currently there is a total of 150 rhinos including black and white rhinos, to protect the endangered rhinos from poachers intending to kill rhinos for their horns and meat which are of high demand on the black market in countries of china and Thailand. The park is fenced with an electric fence so as the rhinos can freely wander off in the wilderness of the park, because of the electric fence there are not elephants in the park as they are known for their ever moving nature for survival and the fence would put limits on them.
Lake Nakuru national park also hosts the rare Rothschild’s giraffe which was introduced to the park in 1980s, luckily these animals have become accustomed to the vegetation type in Lake Nakuru national park and have slowly become an indigenous species of the park.
Though Lake Nakuru national park is a home to abundant wildlife, some of the common animals in the park you will not miss during your Kenya wildlife safari are as listed below. These animals are the highlights of your game viewing experience,
Black and white rhinos
The endangered rhinos are part of the big Five animals of the wild and one of the most sought for animals while on a Kenya wildlife safari in Lake Nakuru national park and Kenya as well, rhinos are endangered animals and they are divided into two categories that is black and rhinos and they are both found in lake Nakuru national park.
Lake Nakuru national park is one of the best places to see both black and white rhinos in Kenya and Africa at large, black rhinos are common in East and Southern Africa. Though black rhinos are called black, there color is actually varies between brown and grey, the black rhinos have a pointed or hooked upper lip which is their signature feature.
Though white rhinos are called white, their color varies between brown and grey, the word white originates from the misinterpretation of the Dutch word Wijd which was used to describe the Rhino’s square upper lip as wide.
Rhinos are listed under the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as critically endangered with the black rhinos classified as near threatened.
In Lake Nakuru national park, rhinos are found in the rhino sanctuary and can be seen all year around.
Rothschild giraffe
Rothschild giraffes are one of the most endangered giraffe species in the world, this species is distinguished by its coat coloring that has pale orange – brown patches. The Rothschild giraffe has 5 assicones on the head compared to other giraffes, giraffes inhabit in savannah grasslands and feed on lush grass and tree stems.
Rothschild giraffe in Lake Nakuru national park can be seen all year round and they are found in the rhino sanctuary.
Cape buffalo
Cape buffaloes are one of the most sought for animals and they are listed among the big Five, cape buffaloes are known to be one of the most dangerous animals in Africa with a possibility of killing more than 100 people a year and trampling them.
A cape buffalo is known for its prominent horns that have fused bases with a continuous bone shield on the head referred as “Boss”.
Lake Nakuru national park is a perfect destination to see cape buffaloes as the park is their perfect habitat because of the daily supply of water from Lake Nakuru and they open woodlands.
Hippos “Hippopotamus”
Hippos are large semi – aquatic mammals and the 3rd largest land mammals, hippos are herbivores and they mainly stay in rivers, swamps and lakes. The waters of Lake Nakuru are a perfect habitat for hippos and they can be seen throughout the year.
Waterbuck
Waterbucks are largest species among the 6 species of Kobus and they are social sedentary mammals known for living in savannah grasslands near water bodies, this is because they cannot endure dehydration. Waterbucks feed on grass and drink a lot of water per day, waterbucks are of a robust build with a shaggy coat ranging from reddish brown to grey, as they age the coat becomes progressively darker.
In Lake Nakuru national park, the waterbucks are easily seen around Lake Nakuru throughout the year.
Animals in Lake Nakuru national park can be viewed throughout the year during game viewing experience, because lake Nakuru national park is fenced, seeing these animals is guaranteed.
