Lake Bogoria National Reserve was named after Lake Bogoria. Lake Bogoria lies in a volcanic region in a half-graben basin south of Lake Baringo, Kenya, a little north of the equator. It has a size of 107km² and the lake is 35km² and 2m deep. Lake Bogoria National Reserve is 250km/155mi from Nairobi and the drive takes at least 5 hours. The lake has inlets but no outlets. The inlets include Emsos, Mugum and Waseges. The lake was formally known as Lake Hannington which was named after Bishop James Hannington who passed there in 1885 on his way to Uganda but was killed by Kabaka Mwanga II who was against Christians. He thought they would over rule him. It was gazetted to protect the herds of greater Kudus which live on the Eastern slopes of the Laikipia Escarpment.

Accessibility: Access to Lake Bogoria National Reserve is a diversion from the Nakuru- Baringo road, via Marigat. Private transport is needed.

ATTRACTIONS

Geysers and Hot Springs

The ground in this area is formed geologically from recent volcanic rocks from the Miocene – Pleistocene era. Around Bogoria, there are some 200 hot springs with water temperatures from 39 to 98.5C. Nearly all these springs are close to the lake or are inside the lake. The hot springs in general have a high content of carbon dioxide, this causes the wild boiling of the springs.

There are also many geysers found spouting here, formed by the vents in the earth’s surface by the volcanic activity. Over the past decade, there has been some major hydrothermal changes which has occurred by frequent fluctuations of water level of Lake Bogoria.

Even slight changes of water level in this shallow lake can impact geyser behavior. Some geysers that were active during 2001 and 2005 have become weak hot springs or steam vents by 2006 with the fall in water level due to drought, whereas activity on other springs increased.

At Loburu delta on the western shore of the lake, the geyser activity increased. One of the geysers, KL30 erupted on a regular 45-minute cycle up to 5 m in height. When active KL30 is probably the highest natural geyser in Africa. During 2007, when the area was flooded all the geyser activity was suppressed, including KL30.

Bird species

Lake Bogoria National Reserve has got over 135 species of birds that are recorded, as they include the little grebe, flamingos, pratincole, swift, little bee-eater, cape wigeon, yellow-billed stork, African spoonbill, augur buzzard, gabar goshawk, water dikkop, great tit, starling, hornbill, crombec and among others. 

Wildlife

Within the Lake Bogoria National reserve, there are animal species that are found in the reserve including the Greater Kudu, buffalo, zebra, cheetah, baboon, warthogs, caracal, spotted hyena, impala, dik-dik, the greater kudu (king of the antelopes) can be seen across the woodlands or spotted under the acacia trees.

Conservation Efforts

Conservation efforts in the reserve focus on protecting its unique ecosystems and addressing environmental challenges. Key initiatives include monitoring and managing the water quality of the lake, which is vital for the diverse wildlife that depends on it. Anti-poaching measures are in place to safeguard resident wildlife, including various antelope species and the rare Greater Kudu. Community engagement plays a crucial role, with programs aimed at promoting sustainable tourism and involving local residents in conservation activities. Educational efforts also raise awareness about the ecological importance of the reserve, ensuring its preservation for future generations.