NidalM Photography / Blog / Travelography / The Wildlife of Nakuru

The Wildlife of Nakuru

Posted by NidalM on Aug 31st, 2009 | 26 comments

There’s more to Nakuru National Park than just the pretty (PINK!) birds. The conservation surrounding the lake hosts an ecosystem teeming with wildlife. From Zebras and Monkeys to Lions and Warthogs, this is the ‘other’ side of Nakuru.

Nakuru offers a wide range of environments for wildlife to flourish. From salty lakes and rolling savannas to jagged cliffs and forests.

Zebras can be seen all over the park, standing in formations like this. What initially looked like a display of affection (awww… CUTE), was pointed out by George, our guide, to be a defense mechanism. Standing like this, Zebras can see in two directions.

And this is what the Zebras are probably looking out for. Lions spend the majority of the day sleeping, only waking up for a few hours for eating and mating. Sounds like me in Ramadan… except for the mating bit… -,-

An ox looking totally bad ass. The cute little bird on its head only adds to the utter bad assness ;P Unlike most wild animals which recognize humans and fear us (muahahaha!), oxes tend to be more belligerent… sometimes attacking land cruisers. This almost invariably results in beef steak for dinner.

And lets not forget the monkeys! Baboons tend to reside in all areas where there are human camps. Highly aggressive, these guys will literally pull food out of tourists’ hands. But they can be really really cute! A baby monkey seems to have found a plastic bottle. Poor thing is holding it up like he found the Holy Grail and would attempt to later eat it. He’s in for a very non-biodegradable surprise.

Case in point: A baboon jumped into a touring bus, grabbed a packed lunch from a poor screaming girl and escaped.

Impala, too call Nakuru home. The social structure of these animals is interesting. A male will usually take ‘control’ of a herd of females, chasing away any other bachelors and recently weaned males. An infant impala here cuddles upto its mother for milk.

However, we did pass by an oddity. A herd of male impalas. George insisted they were a group of recently displaced males, looking for females to plunder. Being in Saudi way too long, I just thought they were really gay.

And how can we miss out good ‘ol Pumba. Timon was curiously MIA however. (Those of you who haven’t seen “The Lion King” and are wondering: “What the Hell?”, I hate you. This is a warthog.)

And after an hour of searching, we finally found our big “sight” of the day. White Rhinos. Critically Endangered, the white rhinos of Kenya have been introduced to the wild from South Africa.

Columbus monkeys. Irony has it that this was the first species of monkey that I’ve seen that spends any decent amount of time in trees. Ta’if Monkeys, you’re a disgrace!

On a more somber note. A herd of ox, heavily weakened by drought, migrates around the lake in search of fresh water. It hasn’t rained adequately in Kenya for several years and many animal populations are becoming critically affected.

Up next, the Masai Mara!

Tags: kenya, nakuru, wildlife

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http://twitter.com/Haseena87 haseena

Really nice photos!! I really like the one of the monkey on the bus stealing the food! And I haven't seen the Lion King? What is this Timon business…hahaha jk =)
http://twitter.com/Haseena87 haseena

Really nice photos!! I really like the one of the monkey on the bus stealing the food! And I haven't seen the Lion King? What is this Timon business…hahaha jk =)
http://sophiaali.blogspot.com/ Sophia Ali

As usual brilliant quality pictures…and I love your headings too…and spare the Impalas by calling them gays.hehehe
http://sophiaali.blogspot.com/ Sophia Ali

As usual brilliant quality pictures…and I love your headings too…and spare the Impalas by calling them gays.hehehe
http://www.interruptingmydreams.wordpress.com/ Rabia

Great photos! The one of the baboon jumping off the bus was hilarious! But I feel bad for that poor girl – she's probably scarred for life!
http://www.interruptingmydreams.wordpress.com Rabia B.

Great photos! The one of the baboon jumping off the bus was hilarious! But I feel bad for that poor girl – she's probably scarred for life!
http://www.nidalm.com/blog/ NidalM

I will personally come over there and force you to watch it if that were true ;P
http://www.nidalm.com/blog/ NidalM

I will personally come over there and force you to watch it if that were true ;P
http://www.nidalm.com/blog/ NidalM

I'm just glad they dont read!
http://www.nidalm.com/blog/ NidalM

I'm just glad they dont read!
http://www.nidalm.com/blog/ NidalM

I wonder who'd win in a fight between me and the monkey. I fight to the death for my food.
http://www.nidalm.com/blog/ NidalM

I wonder who'd win in a fight between me and the monkey. I fight to the death for my food.
shortdoc

Impala! amazing pic… so I guess Darwins theory of natural selection plays a big role!!! poor males is all I have to say! Impala's live life as if they were in saudi! males go as big groups to the mall… and a group of females have one driver – father/brother to “protect” them!

and hakuna matata!!!
shortdoc

Impala! amazing pic… so I guess Darwins theory of natural selection plays a big role!!! poor males is all I have to say! Impala's live life as if they were in saudi! males go as big groups to the mall… and a group of females have one driver – father/brother to “protect” them!

and hakuna matata!!!
qurrat

Never watched Lion King that closely but I know who Pumba is
Nice shots.
qurrat

Never watched Lion King that closely but I know who Pumba is
Nice shots.
http://precognitive.wordpress.com/ Qusay

As usual! superb pics and funny comments, a winning combo in my opinion.
http://precognitive.wordpress.com/ Qusay

As usual! superb pics and funny comments, a winning combo in my opinion.
http://purple-headphones.blogspot.com/ Asmaa

i remember Pumba being much more photogenic. i blame Disney for the unrealistic expectations!
lovely captures though!
http://purple-headphones.blogspot.com/ Asmaa

i remember Pumba being much more photogenic. i blame Disney for the unrealistic expectations!
lovely captures though!
http://www.nidalm.com/blog/ NidalM

I blame Disney for many things
http://www.nidalm.com/blog/ NidalM

I blame Disney for many things
Chiara

I've been trying to pick a favourite picture, but they are all so good it is hard. I've decided on the nursing impala, though. Brilliant photographic timing. Nice to follow on with the stray male impalas. Just heterosexuals wandering in the wilderness of the single life I'm sure. If I were confident the intelligent young buck had read his St Augustine I would say he was a vox clamantis in deserto, but he looks more like an analytical philosopher rather than a virtue theory man to me.
Chiara

I've been trying to pick a favourite picture, but they are all so good it is hard. I've decided on the nursing impala, though. Brilliant photographic timing. Nice to follow on with the stray male impalas. Just heterosexuals wandering in the wilderness of the single life I'm sure. If I were confident the intelligent young buck had read his St Augustine I would say he was a vox clamantis in deserto, but he looks more like an analytical philosopher rather than a virtue theory man to me.
Chiara

I've been trying to pick a favourite picture, but they are all so good it is hard. I've decided on the nursing impala, though. Brilliant photographic timing. Nice to follow on with the stray male impalas. Just heterosexuals wandering in the wilderness of the single life I'm sure. If I were confident the intelligent young buck had read his St Augustine I would say he was a vox clamantis in deserto, but he looks more like an analytical philosopher rather than a virtue theory man to me.
Chiara

I've been trying to pick a favourite picture, but they are all so good it is hard. I've decided on the nursing impala, though. Brilliant photographic timing. Nice to follow on with the stray male impalas. Just heterosexuals wandering in the wilderness of the single life I'm sure. If I were confident the intelligent young buck had read his St Augustine I would say he was a vox clamantis in deserto, but he looks more like an analytical philosopher rather than a virtue theory man to me.