Destination Overview
It is a tiny soda lake that is 18 square kilometers in size. The Maasai word muteita, which means "dust place," is where the word Elementeita got its origin. a description of the region's dryness and dustiness, particularly during the months of January and March. A portion of the alkaline Lake Elementeita, which is near to Lake Nakuru National Park, is located within the Soysambu Conservancy. The lake is acknowledged as an Important Bird Area on a global scale. Since 2005, Lake Elementeita has also been recognized by Kenya as one of the wetlands of international significance (Ramsar sites). One of the Kenya Lake Systems in the Great Rift Valley, Lake Elementeita is made up of three interconnected, rather shallow lakes (Lake Bogoria, 10,700 hectares Lake Nakuru 18,800 hectares, and Lake Elementaita 2,534 hectares) on the floor of Great Rift Valley and covers an entire area of 32,034 hectares.on the floor of Great Rift Valley and covers an entire area of 32,034 hectares.
Lake Elementeita is home to 13 globally threatened bird species and some of the highest bird diversities in the world. Due to the assemblage of various birds of conservation concern, such as the threatened, range-restricted Grey-crested Helmet-shrike (Near Threatened) which occurs in the surrounding woodland where it may be resident.
Almost 400 different bird species have been identified in Lake Elementeita, where birding is done while strolling. You can identify up to 200 different bird species on a good birdwatching day. The blue-green algae, crabs, and greater and lesser flamingo kinds are drawn to Lake Elmenteita. Lesser Flamingos move between the three lakes in numbers of about four million (Lakes Elmenteita, Nakuru, and Bogoria).
Pelicans Breeding Site
The three islands that make up Lake Elementeita are home to approximately 8000 breeding pairs of Great White Pelicans, making it one of the world's largest breeding colonies. Breeding islands may occasionally be crowded with young birds of dark color and side-by-side nesting birds. Breeding rates are high during the rainy season because the Lake has high water levels and the eastern sector's rocky outcrops are flooded to create islands that are ideal for secure nesting.
Because there is not enough fish in Lake Elementeita for all of these enormous birds, they travel to Lake Nakuru and Lake Naivasha to fish and bring the catch back to their young in their gigantic beak pouches. During synchronized feeding, which occurs frequently when Great White Pelicans dine in close proximity to one another, the prey has very little chance of escaping.
Pelican flocks are frequently seen circling in formation in the sky as they look for thermals to carry them upward. The Great White Pelicans move in waves of the closely packed flock. They soar in and crash land onto the sea before scooping up massive mouthfuls of Tilapia Grahami fish with their enormous beaks. They return in the late afternoon and regurgitate fish for their young from their throat pouches, creating a thunderous roar that like a little aircraft flying low over your head.
Mostly Acacia and Tarconanthus camphoratus woodland with patches of Themeda triandra grassland make up the natural vegetation.
Patches of Acacia xanthophloea woodland occur near the shore, and formerly covered a large area south of the lake.
The natural vegetation is primarily composed of Acacia and Tarconanthus camphoratus woods, with a few patches of Themeda triandra grassland.
Acacia xanthophloea woodland is present in patches near the coast and once covered a sizable area to the south of the lake.
