Kenya’s deepest alkaline lake, ringed by hot springs, geysers and the Rift Valley escarpment, where lesser flamingos can gather in their hundreds of thousands.
Lake Bogoria in our Kenya guide, with the places around it.
Lake Bogoria feels like nowhere else on a Kenya safari. Steam rises from hot springs and geysers along its shore, and the alkaline water feeds the blue-green algae that draw lesser flamingos, at times, the reserve’s management plan records, more than a million and a half of them. Gazetted as a national reserve in 1970, the lake is a Ramsar site, an Important Bird Area and part of the Kenya Lake System World Heritage Site.
The lake is also sacred ground. For the Endorois, a pastoralist community, Lake Bogoria is the centre of religious and traditional life: the community’s historical prayer sites and ceremonies are around its shores. The County Government of Baringo counts the lake, its hot springs and geysers, its flamingos and its greater kudu among the county’s main attractions, alongside the freshwater Lake Baringo to the north.
Though mostly shallow, Bogoria is Kenya’s deepest alkaline lake: its southern basin, a relict volcanic crater, reaches about 14 metres, and the lake has no surface outlet. Hot springs cluster at Loburu, Chemurkeu and Mwanasis, with smaller springs, geysers and fumaroles between them along the shore, and the water at the main springs is close to boiling, so the geothermal shore is best enjoyed from the viewing areas.
The reserve protects a stretch of the Rift Valley escarpment and a variety of vegetation, home to the greater kudu, and swamps such as Loboi are rich in birds. In recent years the lake has risen, submerging some hot springs, weakening the geysers and changing the water in which the flamingos feed, so the scene at Bogoria changes noticeably from year to year.
Wildlife moves freely and sightings are never guaranteed.
The geothermal shore at Loburu and Chemurkeu, viewed from a safe distance.
An Important Bird Area with an exceptionally diverse bird fauna.
The reserve’s best-known antelope, protected in its woodland and escarpment.
The reserve has four gates: Loboi, Maji Moto, Nyalilpuch and Emsos. The main approach leaves the Nakuru–Marigat road at a junction just before Marigat town and leads to Loboi Gate, the reserve headquarters, while an earth road near Mogotio leads to the other gates. Lake Bogoria lies north of Lake Nakuru in Baringo County, which makes it a natural addition to a Rift Valley journey that includes Nakuru or Lake Baringo.
Every journey here includes Lake Bogoria on its catalogue route.
Samburu · Nakuru · Bogoria/Baringo · Maasai Mara · Amboseli
Budget nights at Miti Mingi Eco Camp (Maasai Mara), Buraha Zenoni (Lake Nakuru) and Nyati Safari Camp (Amboseli), with camp or lodge stays at the other stops.
Naivasha · Nakuru · Bogoria/Baringo · The Ark · Samburu
Lodge accommodation, with Buraha Zenoni (Lake Nakuru).
Maasai Mara · Lake Nakuru · Lake Naivasha · Lake Bogoria
Accommodation is in lodges.
Kenya
Listed together with Lakes Nakuru and Elementaita as the Kenya Lake System World Heritage Site.
Kenya
Combined with Lake Bogoria on 2 of our journeys.
Kenya
Combined with Lake Bogoria on 2 of our journeys.
Kenya
Combined with Lake Bogoria on 2 of our journeys.
Facts on this page were checked against these sources in October 2026. Park rules, fees and conditions change, so always check the latest before you travel.
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