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© Isaac Kilusu

Lake Naivasha, Bandas and Crater Lake Sanctuary

-0.78534 , 36.31723

Kenya

Lake Naivasha covering an area of 139 sq km is an important bird area(IBA)and a ramsar site since 1995 with over 400 species of birds recorded here.This lake is one of the rift valley lakes which has no outlet but its water is fresh, experts believe that there might be an underground outflow,sorrounding a beautiful volcanic crater lake fringed with acacias, this small sanctuary has many trails, including one for hikers along the steep but diminutive crater rim. The jade-green crater lake is held in high regard by the local Maasai, who believe its alkaline waters help soothe ailing cattle. As well as the impressive migrant  bird species recorded here, giraffes, zebras and other plains wildlife are also regular residents on the more-open plains surrounding the crater.Leopards, servals, caracals and aardvarks have also been spotted but are extremely elusive – the night drives on offer are your best bet. While walking, remember that buffaloes lurk in the woods. There are also guided nature walks for those staying at the sanctuary’s camp.The Bandas area is another classic area to enjoy the woodlands and thickets birds just on the railway line at the naivasha sewage ponds,several migrants and other water birds can be seen in this area

Delete exact location

The introductory text should contain general information about the site, which may include for instance:
• geographic/ biogeographic location
• habitat and vegetation
• typical bird species/bird communities
• protection status
• land use and history
• importance for birdwatching

Coordinates were changed by Mathias Ritschard (Admin) : -0.7853/36.3172 (2024-12-27 15:48:49 )

Site name was changed by Mathias Ritschard (Admin) into "Lake Naivasha, Bandas And Crater Lake Sanctuary" (2024-12-27 15:48:49 )

Site name was changed by Isaac Kilusu into "Lake Naivasha,Bandas And The Crater Lake Sanctuary" (2021-08-21 04:20:01 )

Coordinates were set by Mathias Ritschard (Admin) : -0.7713/36.3557 (2020-11-29 21:57:09 )

Site name was set by Mathias Ritschard (Admin) as "Lake Naivasha" (2020-11-29 21:57:09 )

Edited by Isaac Kilusu on 2021-08-21 04:35:20
Lake Naivasha covering an area of 139 sq km is an important bird area(IBA)and a ramsar site since 1995 with over 400 species of birds recorded here.This lake is one of the lake Surrounding rift valley lakes which has no outlet but its water is fresh, experts believe that there might be an underground outflow,sorrounding a beautiful volcanic crater lake fringed with acacias, this small sanctuary has many trails, including one for hikers along the steep but diminutive crater rim. The jade-green crater lake is held in high regard by the local Maasai, who believe its alkaline waters help soothe ailing cattle. As well as the impressive 150 migrant  bird species recorded here, giraffes, zebras and other plains wildlife are also regular residents on the more-open plains surrounding the crater. crater.Leopards, servals, caracals and aardvarks have also been spotted but are extremely elusive – the night drives on offer are your best bet. Sadly, the lone hippo that once lived here has moved on. While walking, remember that buffaloes lurk in the woods. There are also guided nature walks for those staying at the sanctuary’s campsanctuary’s camp.The Bandas area is another classic area to enjoy the woodlands and thickets birds just on the railway line at the naivasha sewage ponds,several migrants and other water birds can be seen in this area
Edited by Isaac Kilusu on 2021-08-21 04:21:09
the lake Surrounding a beautiful volcanic crater lake fringed with acacias, this small sanctuary has many trails, including one for hikers along the steep but diminutive crater rim. The jade-green crater lake is held in high regard by the local Maasai, who believe its alkaline waters help soothe ailing cattle. As well as the impressive 150 bird species recorded here, giraffes, zebras and other plains wildlife are also regular residents on the more-open plains surrounding the crater. Leopards, servals, caracals and aardvarks have also been spotted but are extremely elusive – the night drives on offer are your best bet. Sadly, the lone hippo that once lived here has moved on. While walking, remember that buffaloes lurk in the woods. There are also guided nature walks for those staying at the sanctuary’s camp

  • Top species

List up to ca. 25 species that:
• have a limited distribution range and/or are rare on a global level
• are most sought-after by birdwatchers at this site
• and are relatively easy to see at this site (year-round or seasonally)

Spur-winged Goose (Plectropterus gambensis)
Yellow-billed Duck (Anas undulata)
Coqui Francolin (Campocolinus coqui)
Montane Nightjar (Caprimulgus poliocephalus)
Nyanza Swift (Apus niansae)
Eurasian Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus)
Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus)
African Jacana (Actophilornis africanus)
Temminck's Stint (Calidris temminckii)
Gray-hooded Gull (Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus)
Great White Pelican (Pelecanus onocrotalus)
Pink-backed Pelican (Pelecanus rufescens)
Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus)
African Spoonbill (Platalea alba)
Rufous-necked Wryneck (Jynx ruficollis)
Gray-backed Fiscal (Lanius excubitoroides)
Red-capped Lark (Calandrella cinerea)
Gray-capped Warbler (Eminia lepida)
Levaillant's Cisticola (Cisticola tinniens)
Black-lored Babbler (Turdoides sharpei)
Rüppell's Starling (Lamprotornis purpuroptera)
White-browed Robin-Chat (Cossypha heuglini)
Red-headed Weaver (Anaplectes rubriceps)
Spectacled Weaver (Ploceus ocularis)
Vitelline Masked-Weaver (Ploceus vitellinus)
Speke's Weaver (Ploceus spekei)
African Pipit (Anthus cinnamomeus)

Yellow-billed Duck (Anas undulata) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-08-21 05:13:45)

Eurasian Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-08-21 05:13:23)

Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-08-21 05:11:34)

African Spoonbill (Platalea alba) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-08-21 05:10:49)

Gray-capped Warbler (Eminia lepida) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-08-21 05:10:20)

Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-08-21 05:08:36)

Vitelline Masked-Weaver (Ploceus vitellinus) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-08-21 05:07:57)

Gray-hooded Gull (Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-08-21 05:07:08)

Spur-winged Goose (Plectropterus gambensis) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-08-21 05:06:44)

Temminck's Stint (Calidris temminckii) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-08-21 05:06:27)

Spectacled Weaver (Ploceus ocularis) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-08-21 05:06:02)

Red-headed Weaver (Anaplectes rubriceps) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-08-21 05:05:21)

Speke's Weaver (Ploceus spekei) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-08-21 05:04:59)

Black-lored Babbler (Turdoides sharpei) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-08-21 05:04:36)

African Pipit (Anthus cinnamomeus) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-08-21 05:04:05)

Red-capped Lark (Calandrella cinerea) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-08-21 05:03:31)

Montane Nightjar (Caprimulgus poliocephalus) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-08-21 05:03:00)

Rufous-necked Wryneck (Jynx ruficollis) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-08-21 05:02:37)

Coqui Francolin (Campocolinus coqui) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-08-21 05:01:20)

Levaillant's Cisticola (Cisticola tinniens) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-08-21 05:01:04)

African Jacana (Actophilornis africanus) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-08-21 05:00:48)

Great White Pelican (Pelecanus onocrotalus) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-08-21 05:00:33)

Pink-backed Pelican (Pelecanus rufescens) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-08-21 05:00:01)

Rüppell's Starling (Lamprotornis purpuroptera) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-08-21 04:59:26)

White-browed Robin-Chat (Cossypha heuglini) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-08-21 04:58:41)

Gray-backed Fiscal (Lanius excubitoroides) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-08-21 04:58:08)

Nyanza Swift (Apus niansae) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-08-21 04:57:35)

  • Timing and strategy

There is no specified time to visit this bird haven, anytime of the year it offers the best birding experience,either waterbirds, woodlands or general forest visitors, always expect the unexpected.The best time to spend at the site is 1-2 days depending on what you want to see,even half a day will still do depending on what you want or need or your pace of birding.The villageweaverbirding@gmail.com takes tours to all riftvalley lakes and across kenya.Also different camps nearby has selection of guides but be aware they might not be as good as such in birding

Give recommendations for making your visit as productive as possible.
This may include for instance:
• best season
• best time of the day
• how much time to spend at the site
• best means of locomotion within the site
• recommended routes / areas within the site
• guiding

Edited by Isaac Kilusu on 2021-08-21 04:41
There is no specified time to visit this bird haven, anytime of the year it offers the best birding experience,either waterbirds, woodlands or general forest visitors, always expect the unexpected.The best time to spend at the site is 1-2 days depending on what you want to see,even half a day will still do depending on what you want or need or your pace of birding.The villageweaverbirding@gmail.com takes tours to all riftvalley lakes and across kenya.Also different camps nearby has selection of guides but be aware they might not be as good as such in birding
  • How to get there

The lake is accessible from Nairobi-naivasha highway or from naivasha suswa road going towards narok.if you are coming from Nairobi turn left at the sign post to lake Naivasha town just opposite of the merlin hotel junction,drive to the town centre and connect with the naivasha suswa road on a south westerly direction,just past the bridge at panaroma hotel you will see a sign board to lake naivasha santuary.if you want to visit the bandas area cross the city centre at moi avenue towards the railway line you will see the entrance gate to the sewage ponds.if you will be visiting the crater lake santuary in the middle of lake naivasha ,the camp will organise a boat to come and pick you up

Explain from where and how to get to this site with private and public transport.

Edited by Isaac Kilusu on 2021-08-21 04:48
The lake is accessible from Nairobi-naivasha highway or from naivasha suswa road going towards narok.if you are coming from Nairobi turn left at the sign post to lake Naivasha town just opposite of the merlin hotel junction,drive to the town centre and connect with the naivasha suswa road on a south westerly direction,just past the bridge at panaroma hotel you will see a sign board to lake naivasha santuary.if you want to visit the bandas area cross the city centre at moi avenue towards the railway line you will see the entrance gate to the sewage ponds.if you will be visiting the crater lake santuary in the middle of lake naivasha ,the camp will organise a boat to come and pick you up

Entrance fee to lake naivasha santuary is 25usd per person but some hotels includes all this in their package if you are staying with them

Provide information on how to enter this site, which may include:
• entry points
• entry permits / entry tickets and fees
• opening hours / opening season
• other restrictions

Note that this section should only contain information on how to ACCESS (= enter) a site. Info on how to REACH a site should be added to "How to get there" section.

Edited by Isaac Kilusu on 2021-08-21 04:50
Entrance fee to lake naivasha santuary is 25usd per person but some hotels includes all this in their package if you are staying with them
  • Other attractions

There are other several activities such as walking,town tours,sport fishing, rock climbing etc

Add information about other attractions at this site, including
• wildlife (apart from birds)
• sights (natural, cultural, archaeological, etc.)
• activities (e.g. for non-birding companions)

Edited by Isaac Kilusu on 2021-08-21 04:51
There are other several activities such as walking,town tours,sport fishing, rock climbing etc

There are several hotels and camps in naivasha area such as crater island camp,lake naivasha hippo camp,paraoma hotel etc etc,also camping facilities are offered by kenya wildlife service

Provide information about what type of facilities are available at
or near this site, including:
• information centers / information points
• catering
• accommodation
• hides and watchtowers
• restrooms / toilets

Edited by Isaac Kilusu on 2021-08-21 04:54
There are several hotels and camps in naivasha area such as crater island camp,lake naivasha hippo camp,paraoma hotel etc etc,also camping facilities are offered by kenya wildlife service

Being close to a big town make sure you walk with a guide around,there are several dangerous animals such as cape buffalo and hippos.mosquitoes also abound the swamp areas along the lake shores so it is good to have an insect repellent everytime

Are there any security issues or other annoyances at this site? For
instance, these may include:
• offenses like robbery or theft
• natural hazards
• dangerous or annoying animals or plants (mosquitoes, leaches, thorn bushes, etc.)
• noise pollution

Edited by Isaac Kilusu on 2021-08-21 04:56
Being close to a big town make sure you walk with a guide around,there are several dangerous animals such as cape buffalo and hippos.mosquitoes also abound the swamp areas along the lake shores so it is good to have an insect repellent everytime
All information about this site was contributed by Orniverse users. Neither Orniverse nor the contributors accept responsibility for the completeness and accuracy of the information provided.

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