The shallow alkaline waters of Lake Elmenteita stretch for around 18 square kilometres on the floor of the Great Rift Valley. The lake is part of the Kenya Lake System UNESCO World Heritage Site and remains one of the few Rift Valley lakes where you can walk the shoreline on foot, unhindered by park gates or vehicle-only rules.
Flamingos — both lesser and greater — feed on the algae that flourish in the salty water, joined by great white pelicans, which use the lake as one of their few breeding grounds in East Africa. Early morning and late afternoon are the best times to watch the birds, when the light catches the pink wings against the pale water and the volcanic hills beyond.