Lake Nakuru Holidays
Lake Nakuru
Holidays
A lake turned pink by a million flamingos — rhino, lions and extraordinary birdlife in the Great Rift Valley
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Flight Time
8–9h to Nairobi, then 2h drive or 30min domestic flight
Best Time
June to October & January to February (dry seasons)
Country
Kenya
Suppliers
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Lake Nakuru Holiday Guide
Lake Nakuru National Park is one of Kenya's most accessible and rewarding wildlife destinations — just 2 hours from Nairobi, the park combines the extraordinary flamingo spectacle, a major rhino sanctuary and excellent Big Five game viewing in a compact, easily explored area.
Getting there: Drive from Nairobi (2 hours on the A104 highway via Naivasha) or fly from Wilson Airport to Nakuru airstrip (30 minutes). The park is the most accessible major wildlife area from Nairobi and is often visited as a day trip or overnight stop on the way to the Maasai Mara.
Lake Nakuru is often combined with Lake Naivasha (60km south) and Hell's Gate National Park in a 2-3 day Rift Valley circuit from Nairobi. The combination of Nakuru (rhino, flamingos), Naivasha (hippos, boat trips) and Hell's Gate (walking safari) makes an excellent introduction to Kenya's wildlife.
The flamingo numbers fluctuate significantly — at peak times the lake is pink with birds, at other times the flamingos may have moved to other Rift Valley lakes (Bogoria, Elementaita). The rhino, lion, leopard and giraffe are present year-round regardless of flamingo numbers.
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Popular Areas in Lake Nakuru
Average Temperatures
Jan
24°C
Feb
25°C
Mar
24°C
Apr
22°C
May
20°C
Jun
19°C
Jul
18°C
Aug
19°C
Sep
21°C
Oct
22°C
Nov
22°C
Dec
23°C
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Call 01282 960 460Top 8 Things To Do in Lake Nakuru
The flamingo spectacle, rhino sanctuary, Rift Valley scenery and extraordinary birdlife that make Lake Nakuru one of Kenya's most rewarding and accessible wildlife destinations.
Flamingos — The Pink Lake
Lake Nakuru has been famous for its extraordinary concentrations of lesser flamingos — at peak times, up to 1.5 million birds line the shoreline, turning the lake pink and creating one of the most spectacular wildlife sights in Africa. The flamingos feed on the blue-green algae (Spirulina) that thrives in the alkaline water. Flamingo numbers fluctuate with the lake's water level and algae concentration — the spectacle is most impressive when the lake is at a lower level and the algae is concentrated.
Rhino Sanctuary — Black & White Rhino
Lake Nakuru National Park is one of Kenya's most important rhino sanctuaries — the entire park is fenced (the first fenced national park in Kenya) to protect both black and white rhino from poaching. Both species are regularly seen on game drives — white rhino (the larger, more docile species) are often seen in groups grazing on the open grassland, while black rhino (smaller, more aggressive) are seen in the acacia woodland. Nakuru is one of the most reliable parks in Kenya for rhino sightings.
Baboon Cliff — Panoramic Rift Valley Views
Baboon Cliff is the most spectacular viewpoint in Lake Nakuru National Park — a rocky escarpment on the western edge of the park with extraordinary panoramic views over the entire lake, the surrounding acacia woodland and the Great Rift Valley. The cliff is named for the large troops of olive baboons that inhabit the rocky outcrops. The view at dawn (when the flamingos are most active and the light is golden) is one of the most beautiful in Kenya.
Rothschild Giraffe — Endangered Beauty
Lake Nakuru National Park has a significant population of Rothschild giraffe — one of the most endangered giraffe subspecies, with fewer than 3,000 remaining in the wild. The Rothschild giraffe is distinguished from other subspecies by its cream-coloured legs (no spots below the knee) and five ossicones (horn-like protrusions on the head). The giraffes are regularly seen browsing in the acacia woodland and are completely habituated to vehicles.
Lake Naivasha — Hippos & Boat Trips
Lake Naivasha, 60km south of Nakuru, is a freshwater lake in the Rift Valley with extraordinary wildlife — large pods of hippos, African fish eagle, pelicans, cormorants and a remarkable variety of waterbirds. Boat trips on the lake (available from the lakeside hotels) offer close-up views of hippos and waterbirds. The Crescent Island Game Sanctuary (accessible by boat) has walking safaris with giraffe, zebra and wildebeest. Hell's Gate National Park (adjacent to Naivasha) has walking and cycling safaris.
Hell's Gate National Park — Walking Safari
Hell's Gate National Park, adjacent to Lake Naivasha, is one of only two Kenyan national parks where visitors can walk and cycle freely without a guide — an extraordinary experience of walking among zebra, giraffe, buffalo and warthog. The park has dramatic volcanic scenery — the Hell's Gate Gorge (a narrow canyon with 120m walls), Fischer's Tower (a volcanic plug) and the Ol Karia geothermal area. The park inspired the landscape of Disney's The Lion King.
Great Rift Valley — Geological Wonder
Lake Nakuru sits in the Great Rift Valley — the 6,000km geological fault that runs from the Jordan Valley in the Middle East to Mozambique in southern Africa. The Rift Valley is one of the most dramatic landscapes in Africa — a vast trench up to 60km wide and 600m deep, flanked by escarpments and dotted with volcanic lakes. The viewpoints on the Rift Valley escarpment (on the road between Nairobi and Nakuru) offer extraordinary panoramic views over the valley floor.
Birdwatching — 450+ Species
Lake Nakuru National Park has over 450 recorded bird species — one of the highest counts of any Kenyan park. Beyond the flamingos, the park has extraordinary waterbirds (African spoonbill, yellow-billed stork, great white pelican, African fish eagle), raptors (martial eagle, African hawk-eagle, augur buzzard) and dry-country species (lilac-breasted roller, superb starling, grey-crowned crane). The park is a Kenya Birding Trail site and one of the best birding destinations in East Africa.
Explore Lake Nakuru on the Map
Key areas, beaches and attractions across the island.
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