Lake Elementaita Kenya

Lake Elementaita is one of the Great Rift Valley lakes in Kenya. It is on the eastern side of Lake Nakuru. It is visible from Nairobi – Nakuru Highway.

The shallow lake is 1,942 metres above sea level. Its formation is attributed to the geographical processes of faulting and volcanic activity that led to the formation of the Great Rift Valley. Lake Elementaita is one of the greatest tourist attractions in Kenya.

The lake is a soda lake. Because of a lack of external drainage there are many salt deposits in the lake and on its shores.

Lake Elementaita is surrounded by the Soysambu Wildlife Sanctuary. The lake is a significant source of water for the region. Its waters however, contain high quantities of fluoride.

Soysambu Wildlife Sanctuary is the abode of many animals like the buffalo, zebra, eland, gazelle, waterbuck, jackal, lion, cheetah and leopard.

Lake Elementaita has many flamingos. The number of flamingos in the lake varies from 40,000 to over 200,000 when there is adequate food in the lake. The flamingos migrate to Lake Natron in Tanzania during the breeding season.

The lake also has various types of pelicans, which breed in the nearby Soysambu Ranch. It has the only breeding population of the Great White Pelicans in Kenya.

The salt deposits from the lake are sold by residents to cattle farmers. Flamingo feathers collected from the lake are used to make beautiful artworks.

Entry to the lake is free for residents and visitors to the nearby Lake Elementaita Lodge. Lake Elementaita Lodge was formerly the home of the renowned Lord G. Egerton.

Another hotel in the area is Lord Delamere, which is renowned for popular game meat.

There is also mbweha camp nearby. Other hotels are available in Naivasha and Nakuru.

Lake Elementaita famous because of the burial site of the late Lord Egerton. He was buried atop a rocky peak at the edge of the lake’s shores in 1929.