This time I took a roadtrip from Nairobi to Lake Magadi through Kiserian and made a stop to tour the Olorgesailie prehistoric site and Oltepesi.
This is a one-day Safari that can be done with even a 2wd low clearance vehicle since the entire road is tarmacked.
The journey to Lake Magadi is one of the most scenic routes in Kenya and should make your list of places you need to visit. Besides exploring the beauty of the Pink Lake, Little Magadi and Magadi town, you can also camp there, explore the hot springs and do bird watching especially the flamingos in the pink waters.
Magadi Soda Company does the mining of the salt and soda ash trona which is found here and carried by rail to Nairobi and beyond.
How do you get there?
The Lake is found in Kajiado County at the bottom of the Rift Valley, 120 km South West of Nairobi. There are hardly no public means of transport and the entire trip is dotted with Maasai settlements, albeit sparsely.
What do you need?
Carry plenty of water and other supplies, also dress lightly. It gets very hot, over 40 degrees Celcius in Magadi and there are hardly any towns on the way there.
Activities:
Flamingo watching, touring Lake Magadi and Little Magadi, exploring the hot springs, camping and touring the salt & trona dredging sites.
Lake Magadi
Lake Magadi is an extremely salty lake which is a remnant of a larger lake that extended to Lake Natron and into Tanzania. A series of streams empty their mineral rich waters into the lake. Over the years, the now extinct lake dried up leaving behind lake Magadi also known as Pink Lake and little Magadi. Lake Magadi is over 100 sq. km and the salt crust over 40m deep in some areas.
Olorgesailie Prehistoric Site
On our drive back, we went to Olorgesailie prehistoric site which a site managed by the Kenya Museums at a charge of only 100 ksh, the guide was extremely knowledgeable. He helped us understand a lot about the early man and the geology of the entire region. This is one of the largest collection of Stone Age tools in Africa. They are located in extinct streams that once drained into the lake
Olepolos Country Club
We then left for our drive back to Nairobi and make a stop at the famed Olepolos Country Club for a sundowner . We took in the views of the surrounding Ngong Hills, and the towering wind plants of Kipeto Power plant, and the yawing gorges of the Rift Valley as we brought our trip to an end with a toast.
VIDEO CHAPTERS
0:00 - Where is Lake Magadi Located?
1:10 - What to carry there
2:20 - Exploring Oltepesi town
3:10 - Touring the Pink Lake
4:00 - Lunch and Tour of Magadi Town
4:45 - Salt Harvesting by Magadi Soda Company
6:30 - Sighting and Watching Flamingoes
7:25 - Touring Olorgesailie Prehistoric Site
10:07 - History of Mount Olorgesailie
10:40 - Sundowner at Olepolos Country Club
Music Credits:
• Africa Maasai Kids by Sofra
• Summer Vibes Background Vlog music by Top Flow Productions -
• Electronic Rock King Around Here by AlexGrohl
Cover Image: antonytrivet
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