Lake Nakuru
★ 4.7🇰🇪 NakuruSuggested visit 1 dayBest season Year-round; June to September and December to February for the dry seasons
NatureWildlifeLake
A soda lake in the Great Rift Valley, its shores packed with flamingos and its park a rhino sanctuary.
Overview
Lying in the Great Rift Valley, Lake Nakuru is a shallow soda lake whose algae blooms draw huge flocks of lesser flamingos, sometimes numbering in the hundreds of thousands and colouring the shoreline pink. The national park around it is one of the most reliable places to see both black and white rhino, and also holds Rothschild's giraffe, buffalo and lion, with acacia woodland and a waterfall along the shore.
History
Declared a bird sanctuary in 1961 and a national park in 1968, it was once called the greatest bird spectacle on earth; rising water levels have since made flamingo numbers fluctuate.
Highlights
- •Flamingo flocks along the shore
- •Black and white rhino
- •Rothschild's giraffe
- •The Baboon Cliff viewpoint
Practical tips
- •Stay in the vehicle — the wildlife is genuinely dangerous
- •Dawn and dusk are the most active hours
Practical information
- Best time
- June-September
- Tickets
- Park entry about USD 60 per person per day
- Opening hours
- 6:00-18:00
- Local food
- Nyama choma, ugali, seafood
- Getting around
- About 2.5 hours by car from Nairobi.
- Visa
- A visa is required; an electronic travel authorisation (eTA) can be applied for online.
Traveller reviews
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