Tembea: Lake Bogoria’s Natural Spa

Located in Kenya’s Bogoria National Reserve in the Great Rift Valley, Lake Bogoria is shallow petrol blue Soda Lake, 2m deep. Its waters contain the blue- green algae that attract thousands of flamingos that flock the lake add colour, turning the shores pink. But more famous are its jets of steam and boiling water shooting out of geysers and fumaroles. Hot springs can be seen erupting, along with the geysers. The springs erupt 2.5 -3 meters into the air and carry with them a strong pungent sulphur smell. Bursting into bubbling pools and boiling waterfalls, many of the ochre-brown depressions centre on sulphurous rock sculptures from which angry geysers blow jets of boiling water several meters into the air. Surreally set against the pink of the flamingos, the petrol blue lake and forbidding mass of the escarpment, punctuated by the bizarre spectacle of visitors boiling eggs in the scalding waters. Lake Bogoria has no outlet and this, coupled with the searing heat, causes intense evaporation. The resultant alkalinity of the water provides the ideal habitat for blue green algae the staple food for flamingos. Consisting of three basins and two ‘necks’ of and, the lake is bordered along its eastern shore by the starkly- furrowed walls of the Siracha Escarpment, which rise 610m above the water level. An insane vision of Hell Bogoria has around 200 hot springs but the largest and most spectacular collection erupt along the lakeside at Loburu, some 9km from Loboi gate. A naturally flowing river feeds this pool from hot springs, so the water remains at a constant temperature of about 37 deg centigrade. It feels like a hot bath, so with the hot daytime temperatures you may find it uncomfortable to swim for long during the day. When the water levels in Lake Nakuru become low, an estimated 1.5 million lesser flamingos frequent Bogoria’s waters. Promenading the shoreline in shifting lines of mature pink and white, they can be seen scything their beaks to and fro to sift the algae from the water. Some stand on one leg, others chug through the water like ducks or upend and kick their shocking pink legs in the air. Buffalos, zebras, impalas, dik dik can also be seen camouflaged in the bushy grassland surrounding the lake. The lakes vegetation is composed of dry bush, grasslands and riverine forest. Tourists can seek accommodation at the Lake Bogoria Spa resort or opt for camping at the campsites. Accommodation can also be found in other Rift valley hotels close to the park. The lakes hot springs offer a natural organic spa for visitors. The Park is located approximately 260km from Nairobi and about 25km from the Lake Baringo Airstrip. It can be accessed by road or by air. Ends

Lifestyle

Tembea: Lake Bogoria’s Natural Spa