纳库鲁湖国家公园(Lake Nakuru National Park)坐落在肯尼亚大裂谷地带,距离首都内罗毕(Nairobi)大约160公里。这里海拔约1754米,占地188平方公里,是肯尼亚唯一一个被全线铁丝网围封的国家公园。虽然很多人是奔着“粉红火烈鸟”来的,但现在的纳库鲁湖其实是观赏黑白犀牛和罗斯柴尔德长颈鹿(Rothschild's Giraffes)最稳妥的去处。
很多老攻略会告诉你纳库鲁湖有两百万只火烈鸟,说真的,那是十几年前的老黄历了。从2012年起,由于地下水位的急剧上涨,原本40平方公里的湖面一度扩张到了近70平方公里。湖水变深稀释了盐碱度,导致火烈鸟赖以生存的螺旋藻大量减少。现在这些粉红精灵更像是不定时的租客,它们会根据水质在博格里亚湖(Lake Bogoria)和埃莱门泰塔湖(Lake Elementaita)之间迁徙。如果你运气好,依然能看到几万只鸟在岸边徘徊,但那种遮天蔽日的粉色已经成了“限定景观”。
虽然火烈鸟少了,但纳库鲁湖依然稳坐“观鸟 paradise”的交椅。由于水位上涨,这里反而吸引了大量的大白鹈鹕(Great White Pelicans)和各种水鸟。超过450种鸟类在这个188平方公里的范围内生活,清晨在湖边你会看到非洲鱼鹰(African Fish Eagle)俯冲捕鱼的瞬间。如果你是一个摄影师,这种生态多样性其实比单纯的一片粉色更好拍。
纳库鲁湖在1987年就被划定为犀牛圣地。这里是肯尼亚白犀牛(White Rhino)和黑犀牛(Black Rhino)密度最高的地区之一。因为公园是有围栏的,动物跑不远,所以在这里看到犀牛的概率远高于马赛马拉(Maasai Mara)。你常能在黄色的相思树林下游猎时,看到白犀牛拖家带口地在草地上啃食。这种体型巨大的史前巨兽在纳库鲁湖得到了极好的保护,目前园内常驻犀牛数量在几十头到上百头之间。
这点很多人不知道:纳库鲁湖国家公园里没有大象。因为公园完全被围栏包围,面积对于胃口极大的大象群落来说太小,生态压力过大,所以园方并没有引入大象。不过别失望,除了大象以外的“非洲五霸”成员——狮子、豹子、水牛和犀牛都在。特别是这里的狮子偶尔会爬树,如果你在林间看到树杈上挂着一只大猫,别太惊讶。
爬上狒狒崖(Baboon Cliff)那一刻,你才能感受到裂谷大地的脉动。这里是公园里的最高点之一,可以俯瞰整个湖面。虽然叫狒狒崖,但千万别在这里吃东西,那里的狒狒已经练就了“开窗抢包”的神技。除了狒狒崖,南部的马卡利亚瀑布(Makalia Falls)在雨季也非常值得一去,10米落差的瀑布虽然不算雄伟,但在旱季的丛林里显得格外清凉。
肯尼亚野生动物服务署(KWS)现在的收费标准分淡旺季。对于非居民(Non-Resident),旺季成人门票通常在100美元左右,淡季大约80美元。一定要提前通过 eCitizen 系统在线支付,现场不收现金。交通方面,从内罗毕开车过来约3小时,建议走拉内特门(Lanet Gate)进入,这样可以完美避开纳库鲁市区的拥堵和嘈杂。
这里看不到马赛马拉那种百万角马过河的景象,但你可以看到小规模的罗斯柴尔德长颈鹿迁徙。这种长颈鹿是濒危物种,全世界只有几百只,但在纳库鲁湖很容易偶遇。这里的动物基本是定居型的,不受季节性大迁徙的影响。
从内罗毕出发一日游完全来得及,但行程会非常赶。建议早上6点出发,9点左右到公园开始驱车游猎,下午4点左右往回赶,这样能避开内罗毕回城的晚高峰。如果想看清晨最美的湖景,还是建议在萨罗瓦狮子山旅馆(Sarova Lion Hill)或者湖边的帐篷营地住一晚。
火烈鸟的粉色来自它们吃下的浮游藻类中的类胡萝卜素。如果湖水盐碱度变化导致食物源改变,鸟羽的颜色就会变淡。另外,小火烈鸟天生是灰色的,需要两三年的进食积累才会变粉,所以你看到的“灰鸟”其实是火烈鸟的青少年版本。
Immanuel Deo Silalahi A beautiful place to see Flamingos, Rhinos, Zebras, Buffalos!l, Giraffes, Baboons, Impalas! Usually this will be the 4th of your 7 days safari trip
Shadrack Avugwe The view of Lake Nakuru is just marvellous. I got unforgettable experiences and it's good I went during the rainy season. The lake covers a small area. No flamingos this time round.
Tibira Kihara Beautiful, breathtaking, then it rained and wow. Spectacular. Do bring your food and water. There are hotels beautiful ones but just too expensive. We saw lions but it took time. We spent the whole day there. It was nice.
Harrison Ngulam Nice park with lots of wildlife to see. I enjoyed my visit to Lake Nakuru National Park Last weekend ,The water at Makalia Falls was trickling due to the drought. The lake had lots of birds such as flamingos, pelicans, cormorants, eagles and other raptors. I was able to see various mammals such as zebras, buffalos, rhinos, giraffes, lions, hippos among others. Looking forward to visit the park again.
Alan Egan After a 4 day safari in another part of Kenya with no Rhinos spotted, I came here and saw 3 White Rhinos and also a family of the endangered Rothschild's giraffes. The National Park itself is beautiful and once in a lifetime. The long drive into it, lined by trees and lake is so cool. Check the trees for many eagles perched. Saw animals of different types too many to mention. I wasn't expecting the flamingos. Hundreds of them. This is a postcard perfect example of Africa.