Lake Magadi

Often overlooked by tourists because it is located in a remote area at the Kenyan south border with Tanzania, Magadi area is known for being one of the hottest and driest places of Kenya and for its pinkish mirror-like soda lake.

A visit to Magadi lake is a nice one-day safari from Nairobi and it is worth a visit for its general landscape, for the wonderful colors of its soda water and for its birdlife.

The town of Magadi as well as the soda lake are owned and exploited by a multinational company who export the valuable sodium carbonate.

At only two hour’s drive from Nairobi and located in the heart of Maasai land in southern Rift Valley, Magadi is a perfect one-day excursion to see how a semi-solid soda lake looks like.

Attractions and Activities
Birdlife: Any keen birder with an interest in Kenya's world famous flamingo population should not miss the breeding grounds at Lake Magadi. A large seasonal population of flamingo comes here to nest within the safety of these desolate salt flats. The surrounding baking hot salt flats, uncrossable by predators, offer total protection. The Flamingos are mostly found at the southern end of the lake, while the freshwater springs in the north attract a host of other birdlife.

The flamingo breeding grounds here are an important bird area, and are frequently visited by specialist birding safaris. Other species of interest recorded here include the African Spoonbill, Cape Teal, Great Egret and the Avocet.

Trekking: Lake Magadi is the finishing point for treks from the Nguruman Escarpment and the Loita Hills. These lengthy treks wind their way down from these cool forested highlands to the sweltering plains of Magadi, often taking 5-7 days. These treks are a wonderful way to experience the southern Maasai land, and present ample opportunities for game and bird watching, wonderful views and encounters with remote Masai villages.

The People and Cultural Visits: This is real Maasai country, and there are plenty of real Maasai handicrafts on sale. When buying these goods, bargaining is the expected norm. The “shukka’ is the blanket seen worn by most Maasai, always red blended with black, blue or other colors. They are warm and functional blankets, ideal for the chill of early mornings on safari.

How to Get There
By Road: Access to Magadi is directly from Nairobi (68 miles).