The the Rift Valley is home to thirty active and semi-active volcanoes and countless hot springs along its length. This string of alkaline lakes and boiling springs northwest of Nairobi includes Lake Baringo, Lake Bogoria, Lake Nakuru, Lake Elementaita, Lake Naivasha, and Lake Magadi in the south. The high evaporation of the surface lake water results in sodium carbonate which, in turn, creates an ideal breeding ground for algae. Several species of fish, tilapia in particular, thrive in this environment. As a result, millions of birds flock to these soda lakes to feast on the abundant food supply of algae and fish. Each of the lakes in the Rift Valley string have a slightly different water composition ranging from freshwater to extremely alkaline, highly saline to brackish.

LAKE NAIVASHA

The highest and purest of the Great Rift Valley lakes, Lake Naivasha lies approximately 80 kms west of Nairobi on the floor of the Rift. The Lake shores are lined with fertile and flourishing horticultural farms and thousands of yellow barked acacias. Naivasha is home to more than 340 species of birds, has a resident population of hippo and small herds of plains game are found all around the shores. Bird and game viewing is by boat or on foot. The lakeshore was, for many years, the home of the late authoress Joy Adamson and it was here that she first raised Elsa, the lioness. Mount Longonot, an extinct volcano, lies just east of the Lake and Hell's Gate National Park south east, with its challenging rock climbs, where game abounds and birdlife includes the rarest of Kenya's vulture population, the Lammergeyer, which nests on the cliffs. For further information on Lake Naivasha please visit www.lakenaivasha.org

LAKE NAKURU

Lake Nakuru is a shallow strongly alkaline lake set in a picturesque landscape of surrounding woodland and grassland. The landscape includes areas of marsh and grasslands alternating with rocky cliffs and outcrops, stretches of acacia woodland and rocky hillsides covered with a Euphorbia forest.  Up to 1.5 million flamingos plus 450 other species of birds

LAKE ELEMENTAITA

Lake Elementaita lies east of Lake Nakuru and is surrounded by private ranching land. Soysambu Wildlife Sanctuary gives visitors a chance to spend time on the shores of this previously inaccessible alkaline Rift Valley lake, home, at certain times of year, to thousands of lesser and greater flamingo, Kenya's only breeding population of Great White Pelicans and a myriad of other water birds. The Sanctuary encompasses the northern, western and southern shores of the lake which are surrounded by acacia bush, yellow fever tree forests and open grassland. Buffalo, zebra, eland, gazelle, waterbuck, jackal, lion, cheetah and leopard are just some of the many species of game to be seen.

LAKE BARINGO

The lake is surrounded by volcanic ranges that stretch as far as the eye can see. A Geyser once erupted in April 2004 reaching a maximum height of 80m. The Geyser attracted many Tourists as the World’s highest then. The lakes chocolate waters (due to the soils in the region) change in tonality during the day depending on the color of the sky. A memorable sight around the lake is the amazing sight of the large hippos emerging from the waters to graze the lawns in noisy groups in the moonlight pastures.

LAKE BOGORIA GAME RESERVE

The volcanically active lake is lined with spouting geysers. The lake has the highest number of true geysers in Africa. In addition the lake has around 200 hot springs at three onshore sites while the other hot springs discharge directly from the lake floor. The soda waters of the lake contain the blue -green algae which tend to attract massive flocks of flamingoes seasonally hence the lake is often carpeted with pink. Framing the shallow waters pinned with flamingoes is superb scenery of bluish hills populated with dry bush, grassland and riverine.

LAKE MAGADI

Lake Magadi is the worldfs second largest source of sodium carbonate. The general landscape in the pinkish mirror like Soda Lake is stunning because of the wonderful colors of its soda water and its bird life. The lake changes color according to the changes in light. Nevertheless some parts have turned bright green due to the profuse number of algae. Fresh water springs at the lakeshores and baths provide a natural spa for visitors.  The thick encrustation of soda that give the landscape around the lake Magadi a weird lunar appearance, the intense heat, the isolation, the baking salt plains that stretch into horizons of shimmering heat haze and the pink waves of nesting flamingos give a lot of diversity in life making lake Magadi just another world.