Lake Nakuru is a compact, fenced national park on the floor of the Great Rift Valley, about three hours from Nairobi. It is one of Kenya’s most important rhino sanctuaries and one of the most reliable places in the country to see both black and white rhino.
The alkaline lake has long been known for flamingos; their numbers rise and fall with water levels, so some months are pink with birds and others are not. The wildlife on the shores and in the woodland is dependable year-round.
Why visit Lake Nakuru National Park
Few parks in Kenya give you such a good chance of seeing rhino. Nakuru is also an easy stop between Nairobi and the Masai Mara, which makes it a natural addition to a Kenya safari circuit.
Animals you can see
- Black and white rhino
- Rothschild’s giraffe
- Lion and leopard
- Cape buffalo and waterbuck
- Plains zebra and baboons
- Flamingos and pelicans (numbers vary with lake levels)
- More than 400 bird species
Best time to visit
Good all year. The dry seasons (June to October and December to March) make wildlife easier to find; the green season brings excellent birding.
How many days do you need?
We recommend 1–2 days in Lake Nakuru National Park.
Things to do
- Game drives along the lake shore and through acacia woodland
- Baboon Cliff and Out of Africa viewpoints
- Makalia Falls picnic site
- Birding safaris
Where to stay
Lodges and tented camps inside the park and in Nakuru town suit every budget.
Getting there
About 3 hours by road from Nairobi. Often combined with Lake Naivasha and the Masai Mara.
