During the short rains, in November, millions of migrating birds congregate. The famous stream is home to thousands of aquatic animals especially hippos. Tsavo-East is recommended for Photographers with its fabulous light and unbelievable views, in particular the Mudanda Rock and the Yatta Plateau, the world's largest lava flow. The rare, shy and elusive Bongo inhabits the higher bamboo zone and the hyperacid scrubs between the thick forest and the moorlands. Its the best area to see Black melanistic leopard, Black serval cat and Black genet.
Birds are also plentiful.
It is the first bird sanctuary established in 1960. The combination of sunshine and alkaline water creates ideal conditions for the growth of microscopic blue algae, which is the first link in food chain and which forms food for one to two million lesser flamingos, making the lake the greatest bird spectacle on earth where flocks of about 300,00 birds can be seen at one sighting. The population of these birds undergo great fluctuations from year to year when some migrate up or down Rify valley visiting other lakes like Lake Natron in Tanzania, Magadi, Elementaita, Bogoria or Lake Turkana depending on whichever lake produces the best food for the given time The lake shores and hinterland abound with forest and plains games, Among the mammals, Waterbuck are most numerous while leopard and rhino are the most exciting. There is special sanctuary where over 36 black rhinos and about 11 white rhinos have been placed behind electric fencing and safe from poaches and they cotinue to multiply. Rothchilds giraffe is another unique and park has it fair share of the buffalo, leopard, wild dod, zebra, Eland, Waterbuck and territorial lion.