Fernweh: Home
    ExploreTravel GuidesPlan a tripMy tripLast visited
    de|en
    All Places & RegionsAll highlightsAbout FernwehFAQPrivacy PolicyImprint
    ExploreTravel GuidesPlan a tripMy tripLast visited
    Lake Elmenteita
    Ninara / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0

    Kenya

    Lake Elmenteita

    Point of Interest

    Lake Elmenteita is a small soda lake between Naivasha and Nakuru, about 120 km northwest of Nairobi near the Nairobi-Nakuru-Highway.

    by Felix Gillen

    1. Home
    3. Destinations
    5. Kenya
    7. Great Rift Valley
    9. Lake Elmenteita
    Lake Elmenteita is a small soda lake between Naivasha and Nakuru, about 120 km northwest of Nairobi near the Nairobi-Nakuru-Highway. The lake is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Kenyan Rift Valley Lakes, attracts large flamingo flocks depending on water levels, and is the last remaining breeding ground for pelicans in Kenya.Two-thirds of its shoreline belong to the Soysambu Conservancy, a private ranch owned by the Delamere family, featuring zebras, giraffes, and gazelles.

    Sights in Lake Elmenteita

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Sleeping Warrior
    Point of Interest

    1Sleeping Warrior

    Rock formation in the Elementeita Badlands west of the lake. The Maasai see a reclining warrior in it, hence the name.
    Open in Google Maps
    Soysambu Conservancy
    Attraction

    2Soysambu Conservancy

    Private Conservancy on the Delamere family's ranch, founded in 1906, protected since 2007. It encompasses approximately two-thirds of the lake shore, home to over 12,000 wild animals, including zebras, giraffes, and gazelles.
    Open in Google Maps
    The Hot Springs of Kekopey
    Attraction

    3The Hot Springs of Kekopey

    Hot springs at the south end of the lake. Pelicans and night herons fish in the surrounding reeds.
    Open in Google Maps
    Kariandusi Museum
    Museum

    4Kariandusi Museum

    Prehistoric site near the lake, where Louis Leakey discovered Stone Age hand axes and choppers in 1928. A small museum explains the finds.
    Open in Google Maps

    Restaurants in Lake Elmenteita

    History and Landscape

    The Dusty PlaceThe name derives from the Maasai word muteita, meaning "dusty place," an allusion to the area's dryness, especially from January to March. West of the lake lie the Elementeita Badlands, featuring the "Sleeping Warrior," a rock formation that reminds the Maasai of a reclining warrior.Soysambu and Lord DelamereSoysambu Ranch was founded by Hugh Cholmondeley, 3rd Baron Delamere, in 1906 and remains family-owned to this day. Since 2007, it has been protected as a Conservancy, encompassing the northern and western parts, as well as a section of the southern shore.World Heritage and PrehistorySince 2005, the lake has been a Ramsar site, and since 2011, part of the UNESCO World Heritage site "Kenya Lake System in the Great Rift Valley." Nearby, Louis Leakey discovered Stone Age hand axes at Kariandusi in 1928; today, a small museum stands there.

    Handy Information

    Getting ThereThe lake is located near the Nairobi-Nakuru Highway (A104) at Gilgil, between Naivasha and Nakuru. It's not far to Nakuru, making it easy to combine the lake with the national park.Around the LakeMost of the shoreline lies on private land belonging to the Soysambu Conservancy or the lodges. Accommodations around the lake organise activities like horseback riding or bush dinners.The KWS lists the lake as “Lake Elementaita Wildlife Sanctuary” in its tariff, effective October 1, 2025, at 50 US dollars per person for 24 hours for non-resident adults. Payment is cashless via eCitizen.Good to KnowFlamingos are seasonal, their numbers fluctuating greatly with the water level. In the reeds near Kekopey Springs at the southern end, pelicans and night herons fish.

    Accommodations in Lake Elmenteita

    Find perfect stay in Lake Elmenteita

    Booking.com* (Affiliate link)
    Search Hotels
    Agoda* (Affiliate link)
    Search Hotels
    Airbnb
    Vacation Rentals

    * Affiliate link: if you book through it, we earn a small commission. The price stays the same for you.

    Nearby

    Lake Nakuru National Park

    Lake Nakuru National Park

    Lake Nakuru National Park directly borders the city of Nakuru, about 160 km northwest of Nairobi, and is considered one of East Africa's most successful rhino sanctuaries, home to both white and black rhinos. The fenced park surrounding the soda lake also protects Rothschild's giraffes, lions, and leopards, as well as hundreds of bird species.The once famous flamingo flocks have become rarer and more unpredictable since rising water levels have diluted the lake.
    Nakuru

    Nakuru

    Nakuru is located approximately 160 km northwest of Nairobi on the Nairobi-Nakuru Highway and, since 2021, is Kenya's fourth chartered city. For travellers, it's mainly a base for Lake Nakuru National Park, right on its doorstep, the Menengai Crater, and the prehistoric site of Hyrax Hill.The capital of Nakuru County has a vibrant, rapidly evolving nightlife scene.
    Great Rift Valley

    Great Rift Valley

    Northwest and southwest of Nairobi, the land drops steeply into the East African Rift Valley: a chain of lakes, extinct volcanoes, and gorges, which you can reach from the capital in one to two hours by car. Lake Naivasha, Hell's Gate, Mount Longonot, and Lake Nakuru are situated close together here, making them ideal for a first safari leg or for hiking and cycling.Three of the soda lakes – Nakuru, Elmenteita, and Bogoria – have been part of the UNESCO World Heritage "Kenya Lake System in the Great Rift Valley" since 2011, one of the most important feeding grounds for the lesser flamingo worldwide.
    Naivasha

    Naivasha

    Naivasha is located approximately 93 road kilometers northwest of Nairobi on the freshwater lake of the same name. Hippos, over 400 bird species, and its proximity to Hell's Gate and Mount Longonot make the lake a popular weekend destination and the first leg of many safaris through the Rift Valley.The town itself is a bustling agricultural center, with accommodations and restaurants primarily lining Moi South Lake Road on the southern shore.
    Hell's Gate National Park

    Hell's Gate National Park

    Hell's Gate National Park lies south of Lake Naivasha, around 90 km from Nairobi, and is one of Kenya's few parks where you can explore on foot or by bike among zebras, buffaloes, and antelopes. Red cliffs, the volcanic plugs Fischer's Tower and Central Tower, and a narrow gorge define the mere 68 km² landscape.The scenery served as inspiration for the animated film "The Lion King" (1994); among other productions, "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life" was filmed here.

    Sources & method

    • Photos: Wikimedia Commons, Google Maps. Each photo carries its credit.
    • Place data such as addresses and ratings comes from Google Maps.
    • The content is based on web research from public, traceable sources. How the content is made · The role of AI