Located right next to one of Kenya’s fastest growing towns, Nakuru, the park’s fame and popularity is arguably second to Masai Mara’s.
The 188 square kilometers park is famed fantastic large flocks of greater and lesser flamingos. Other than the over 1.3 million flamingos that grace the shallow (2.5 meters deep) saline lake to form an aesthetic beauty that has over the years been referred to as ‘the pink mosaic’, the park is home to another 400 bird species.
Lake Nakuru was established in 1960 as a bird sanctuary. Eight years later, it was elevated to a national park with the introduction of herbivores like the Rothschild’s giraffe.
Though faced with serious ecological problems that might wipe out the park as a top tourism destination in Africa, Nakuru is still rated highly with official records showing that it receives over 300,000 tourists annually. It has a good population of buffalos, elephants, rhinos and cats like lions and leopards.
The park is amongst the few parks in Africa that are fully fenced. Though many others are following its example to protect the adjacent human settlements. It has secured water catchments and protected poaching, the fence has however imposed new challenges that see the degeneration of the parks awe-inspiring acacia woodland.
Lake Nakuru National park and its surrounding is a true presentation of the African wildlife, beauty and way of both urban and rural life.
 

Actual Placement Photos.

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A greater part of the park consists of the saline spirulina rich Lake Nakuru. The lake has over the decades proved to a useful facet of the park. Today, the once extensive lake has shrunk considerably raising over the parks future. The lakes continued shrinking patterns has been a result of extensive destruction of adjacent forests that are important sources of rivers feeding the lake.
Ecologists believe that restoring and protecting the forests will definitely give the park back its glory and save it from extinctions. Initiatives directed towards this course will not only save one of the greatest treasures of the world but such initiatives will also maintain the wildlife’s ecological circles and save the country’s economy hence ensuring better lives for future Kenyan generations.
The park also has animal surveillance (particularly the endangered white and black rhinos) that volunteers could participate.
Lake Nakuru presents a special case of wildlife and ecology versus civilization and dozens of issues that a volunteers could lend a hand in finding a solution to because at the end of it all, everyone the whole world stands to be adversely affected should the forests go vanish and marvelous creations like rhinos whipped to extinction. With global focus on the environment, placements like this are more relevant today than ever before.
 

This placement would best suit anyone who is mindful of the earth’s original ecological patterns restoration and continuity.
It is also perfect for animal lovers who would like to work closely with animals and understand the connection between them, the environment and human prosperity globally.
Students, couples or anyone with a keen interest in conservation are welcome. The work is diverse an interesting and may involve some camping out and getting hands dirty from time to time.
 

Inspire Kenya will organize food, accommodation and safe bottled drinking water near or inside the park. Either in host family or Wildlife service rooms both are comfortable and secure.
Nakuru town is endowed with all sorts of hotel class, ranging from two starts to five stars hence volunteers who would like to put up in this hotels while working at the park are welcome to do so at special costs. The town also has banks, internet cafes, bars and shops. It is also well linked to other major Kenyan cities.
 

Nakuru town, located barely two minutes away from the park and 2 hours away from Nairobi, there are loads of things one can take upon as fun activities during the weekends or at the end of the one’s placement.
The activities range from picnicking next some of the most famous geysers in the world near lake Naivasha. You could relax in water streaming from the geysers for a nature inspired picnic.
Because of its unique location, it is possible to visit a number of places including Nairobi.
Many who have visited East African cities, have an impression that, “Nairobi is East Africa’s hub of fun" The city is awash with standard fun bobbling joints for the young and the old alike. Nairobi is the only city in the world where one can go for a game drive in the wild, thus, weekends out to the Nairobi National Park could be in order.
There is also the Nairobi Safari Walk just next to the Animal orphanage, a giraffe and an elephant sanctuary, where one could get to kiss a giraffe lip to lip.
For a cultural night out a visit to the Bomas of Kenya, will leave you thrilled and educated about various Kenyan traditional cultures, music and history. One could also climb Mount Longonot, two hours drive from the city, for skilled climbers, Inspire Kenya will be more than glad to organise her volunteers a climb up Africa’s second highest point – Mount Kenya. The mountain’s icy peaks of Batian (5199m) and Nelion (5,189m) are accessible only to experienced mountaineers,
Kenyans are uniquely hospitable people, intelligent and out going. A chat with them over a drink after a hard day’s work could be equally a fun. Inspire Staff can help and advise before of during your trip any travel plans.
 

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