Current view: Text account
Site description (2024 baseline):
Site location and context
The shallow alkaline lake (1,800 ha; maximum depth 1.9 m is located approximately 130km from Nairobi, 42 km from Naivasha and 38 km south of Nakuru. It is accessed by the Trans-African Highway (A104). It is fed by the Kekopey hot springs at its southern end, and two small streams, the Meroronyi and Kariandusi, flowing from the eastern plateau. The surrounding landscape is characterized by dramatic rocky faults, volcanic outcrops and cones. Rainfall is erratic and averages less than 600 mm/year.
See Box and Table 2 for key species. The Neat Threatened, restricted-range Prionops poliolophus occurs in the surrounding woodland (where it may be resident), and Euplectes jacksoni is a seasonal visitor nesting in the tall grassland. The lake consistently holds internationally important populations of Phoenicopterus ruber, P. minor, and Recurvirostra avosetta. Up to 8,000 pairs have bred there when water levels are high and rocky outcrops in the eastern sector are flooded to form islets, on which the birds can safely nest. The pelicans move daily to Lake Nakuru (IBA KE049) to feed. Phoenicopterus ruber have also bred at Elmenteita in the past, but have been displaced by pelicans in recent years. There have been occasional, but unsuccessful, breeding attempts by Phoenicopterus minor. The woodland and bushland are rich in birdlife (over 400 species have been recorded), particularly raptors. Globally threatened species additional to those shown in the Box are Falco naumanni, which occurs on passage, and vagrant Clanga clanga and Melaniparus fringillinus. Regionally threatened species include Podiceps cristatus (which has nested here recently), Casmerodius albus (an important non-breeding site, with regularly more than 50 and as many as 141 counted in January 2021); Trigonoceps occipitalis; Hieraaetus ayresii; Stephanoaetus coronatus; Polemaetus bellicosus; Buphagus africanus; and Euplectes progne.
Non-bird biodiversity: Soysambu holds good populations of large mammals, including an introduced population of Giraffa camelopardalis rothschildi. The snake Bitis worthingtonii, endemic to the central Rift Valley above 1,500 m, is known from here. The cichlid fish Oreochromis alcalicus grahami, endemic to alkaline lakes in this part of the Rift Valley, occurs in the hot springs and has recently spread to the main
To the east, the lake is flanked by small-scale agriculture, while several large ranches surround the remainder. The northern and south-eastern lakeshores are open and flat, a spectacular cliff rises to the north-east, and the western shores are broken and rocky. The natural vegetation is mainly Acacia and Tarconanthus camphoratus bushland interspersed with Themeda triandra grassland. Patches of Vachellia xanthophloea woodland occur near the shore, and formerly covered a large area south of the lake. The IBA/ KBA consists of the lake and its surrounding shoreline, including the hot springs and the cliffs, and the Soysambu Wildlife Sanctuary (5,400 ha), part of the Delamere Estate, that abuts the lake to the north and west.
Pressure/threats to key biodiversity
Private ranches, including the Soysambu Wildlife Sanctuary, cover c.75% of the shoreline, and this portion is generally well protected.- Subsistence farming on the eastern side is leading to increased siltation of the lake from soil erosion, while increased offtake from the Meroronyi stream and destruction of vegetation in the catchment are reducing water inflows.
- There has been substantial destruction of the Acacia xanthophloea woodland on the south-eastern shores.
- Overgrazing on the ranchland during periods of drought, particularly in the south-eastern sector, accelerates erosion after heavy rain.
- Soda extraction and sand mining on the eastern shores are limited in scale at present but may be a serious problem in future.
- Tourism at the IBA is increasing, the main attractions being the scenery, bird watching, and the World Rally Championships (WRC). In 2021 the Kenyan President, Uhuru Kenyata announced to have agreed with the International Automobile Federation (FIA) and the World Rally Championship to continue hosting the Safari Rally in Kenya every year until 2026. The championship take places in conservancies such as Soysambu Conservancy just next to the IBA. The activity increases soil erosion, air and sound pollution. In the longrun disrupting the birds in their natural habitat. There are series of tourist lodges springing up on the escarpment above the lake and the sorounding landscape. At the moment tourism exerts pressure on the lake, and is a force for its conservation.
- Climate change effects are unassumable.
Conservation responses/actions for key biodiversity
• To ensure protection and conservation of Lake Elementaita water body and its associated wildlife, especially waterbirds of conservation concern, and their habitats for the benefit of present and future generations, a 10 year general management plan (2017 - 2027) was prepared.
• There are an ongoing research on monitoring of effect of power lines passing adjacent to the lake on avifaua.
• Annual water bird census is carried out in January and July.
• A local community group (Lake Elmentaita Community Based Organization) is on the forefront in pertaking advocacy on the KBA.
The lake is now a wildlife sanctuary under the Kenya Wildlife Service
The larger part consisting of water is owned and managed by the government while the lake buffer zone is privately owned
Site access / Land-owner requests
To access the lake, one can get permits from the Kenya Wildlife Service
We aknowledge the conservation community for the unanimous effort in ensuring that the KBA is well taken care of and remains intact despite the threats.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Lake Elmenteita (Kenya). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/lake-elmenteita-iba-kenya on 22/12/2024.
