Experience the uniqueness of Lake Nakuru National Park on a thrilling Kenya safari adventure.
Famous for massive flocks of pink flamingos, rhinos and the shimmering soda lake on the Great Rift Valley floor, Lake Nakuru National Park is without a doubt an icon among Kenya’s parks. Although relatively small, the abundance of wildlife and captivating landscapes make it a uniquely rewarding game-viewing and photography destination.
The park is perfect for first-time visitors and family safaris, thanks to its variety of family-friendly properties as well as activities like game drives, picnicking and camping.
Lake Nakuru National Park at a Glance
Lake Nakuru National Park is located in southwestern Kenya, on the floor of the Great Rift Valley about 157 km (98 mi) northwest of Nairobi. It is flanked by steep rocky escarpments, pockets of acacia forest, woodlands, open grasslands, and the Makalia Falls.
Spanning an area of 73 square miles (188 sq km), the park is part of a larger UNESCO World Heritage Site that includes Lake Nakuru, from which the park derives its name, as well as Lake Bogoria and Lake Elementaita.
The iconic rocky cliffs and escarpments like Baboon Cliff and Lion Hill provide panoramic views of the surrounding landscapes as the yellow-barked acacia trees add to the traditional African wilderness experience.
The shallow alkaline Lake Nakuru is famous for hosting hundreds of thousands of greater and lesser flamingos, creating the stunning pink colouration along the shores. The waders come to mate, raise their young, and feed on the lake’s algae. Baboon Cliff yields the best views of the spectacle.
Lake Nakuru National Park is an ideal standalone day trip for those who are short on time but would love to encounter some of Africa’s iconic wildlife. You might well prefer to combine Lake Nakuru National Park with a trip to Hell’s Gate National Park and Lake Naivasha National Park. Soysambu Conservancy also borders Lake Nakuru on the southeast.
Wildlife in Lake Nakuru National Park
Lake Nakuru National Park is home to a rich wildlife population, including four of the Big Five (except elephants), hyenas, hippos, zebras, waterbucks, elands, reedbucks, bushbucks, baboons, impalas, and the endangered Rothschild’s giraffe.
As a successful sanctuary for endangered species, it boasts more than 70 white rhinos and 25 eastern black rhinos, making it an incredible year-round game-viewing destination.
With more than 450 avian species, the park is a remarkable birding hotspot, with flamingos serving as the main drawcard. Recently, rising water levels and pollution-induced changes in water quality caused them to migrate elsewhere.
Other bird species include the African fish eagle, Verreaux’s eagle, Goliath heron, and various kingfishers, along with over a dozen raptor species.
Best time to visit Lake Nakuru National Park
Although Lake Nakuru National Park is a year-round game viewing destination, the best time to visit is during the dry seasons of June to October and January to February. These times are when the vegetation is sparse and many smaller pools of water dry up, causing wildlife to congregate at Lake Nakuru for water and therefore making them easier to spot.
The dry seasons are also the best time for seeing flamingoes due to the abundance of algae which attracts huge populations to feed on them on the shores of Lake Nakuru.
In contrast, the rains might interfere with your excursions and road conditions can be poor in the main wet season from late March to May.
Where to stay in Lake Nakuru National Park
Lake Nakuru National Park offers a variety of accommodation options ranging from high-end luxury lodges to comfortable stays at camping sites both inside and outside the park. Here are our top picks.
- Sarova Lion Hill Game Lodge: This large resort-style high-end property is only 4 miles from the Lanet Gate in the park’s northeastern end. It delivers panoramic views of the lake and the surroundings and makes for a fantastic base for those particularly interested in bird watching and being surrounded by beautiful landscapes.
- Deloraine House is a magnificent family-owned and run colonial property. It is situated on the densely forested lower slopes of Londiani Mountain, less than an hour’s drive from Lake Nakuru. The lodge has a fascinating history and offers multi-day horseback safaris in various parks and reserves around Kenya.
- Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge: Though technically a lodge, Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge provides a more rustic, tented feel with luxury amenities and spectacular views from atop the cliff overlooking the gleaming lake and surrounding landscape. It is just 230 feet from the Nderit Gate in the park’s south-east region.
Trips to Inspire
