Lake Elementaita Wildlife Sanctuary

Lake Elementaita Wildlife Sanctuary is located about 10 km from Gilgil Town in Nakuru County.  Lake Elementaita is a saline soda lake in the Great Rift Valley of Kenya, approximately 120 kilometers northwest of Nairobi. Lake Elementaita Sanctuary is situated between Lake Nakuru to the south and Lake Naivasha to the north. Lake Elementaita is part of the Lake Elementaita Conservation Area, which also includes Soysambu Conservancy.

The lake is named after the Maasai word “muteita,” which means “dust place.” The area around Lake Elementaita was designated an Important Bird Area (IBA), a site of global significance for bird and biodiversity conservation, in 1999. The lake was designated a Ramsar site (wetland of international importance) in 2005. It was gazetted as a National Wildlife Sanctuary in 2010 and listed together with Lakes Nakuru and Bogoria as the Kenya Lakes System in the Great Rift Valley World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2011.

Lake Elementaita is home to many other bird species, including pelicans, herons, and various migratory birds. It also supports a range of mammals, such as zebras, giraffes, warthogs, and gazelles. The lake itself is alkaline and has a high concentration of salt, which supports the growth of algae and other microorganisms.

Lake Elementaita and its surroundings offer scenic beauty and opportunities for outdoor activities. Visitors can enjoy bird watching, nature walks, and game drives in the nearby Soysambu Conservancy. Visitors can also find the enchanting Kikopey hot springs as well as wander up Hyrax Hill and the Kariandusi site, There are also a few lodges and campsites around the lake that provide accommodation and facilities for tourists.

Lake Elementaita Wildlife Sanctuary is located 120 km northwest of the capital, 3 hour’s journey from Nairobi. The sanctuary is about 40 km north of Naivasha and 45 km south of Nakuru. The nearest administrative town is Gilgil within Nakuru County.

By Air: The nearest airstrips are Nakuru (Lanet) and Soysambu Airstrip. It is a bird’s haven and n Important Bird Area, a Ramsar site, and a World Heritage Site. (IBA) is a site that provides essential habitat to one or more species of breeding, wintering, or migrating birds. The sanctuary has some hot water springs.

It is accessible through two gates namely Pelican Gate along the Nairobi – Nakuru Highway and Maji Moto Gate along Kikopey – Elementaita Road. Lake Elementaita basin has one of the oldest archeological sites belonging to the Oldowan period, with stone tools dating to 700,000 years ago found at Kariandusi.

The Obsidian mines at the Eburru Mountains are evidence of the Obsidian trade dating over 3000 years ago. Subsequently, the region was occupied by pastoral Neolithic, later the Maasai pastoral community who called it “Elementaita”. During the colonial occupation, the whole area between Elementaita and Naivasha was taken over and used for livestock and wildlife ranching by Lord Delamere.

2023 Lake Elementaita Wildlife Sanctuary – Conservation Fees

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