Lake Nakuru National Park

What's so special about Lake Nakuru Park?

  • Greater and Lesser Flamingoes, fringing the waters of the soda lake Nakuru, creating a pink-hued spectacle.
  • Home to the Black Rhino, the endangered White Rhino, and other animals such as waterbuck, zebra, buffalo, the endangered Rothschild giraffe, lions, leopards, baboons and black & white colobus monkeys.
  • One of the best places to view leopard
  • Prolific bird life including pelicans
  • Close proximity to the capital city, Nairobi, on newly tarmac roads
  • Unique vegetation, including the biggest euphorbia forest in Africa, and 550 different plant species.
  • Varied topography, including hills and waterfalls.
  • Combine a visit to the park, with rock climbing at the nearby Hell's Gate, or mountain climbing on the nearby peaks of Mt. Longonot and Menengai Crater.
  • Hyrax Hill Museum, showing the remains of a primeval beach bordering a huge lake (possibly a huge inland sea), as well as several pieces of ceramic, glass and stone tools.
  • UNESCO World Heritage Site

 

FAST FACTS

Altitude:

1758 m above sea level

Area:

188 sq km

Location:

Central Kenya, Nakuru District, Rift Valley Province

Distance from Nairobi:

156 kms

Climate:

Ranges from cool to hot & humid.  Annual rainfall is 965 mm per year and the wettest months are March to May and October to December.

Vegetation:

Gentle undulating terrain with open bush and woodlands typical of the dry Rift Valley vegetation, alternating with rocky cliffs and outcrops. 27% of the park is taken up by the waters of the lake, and there is a euphorbia forest on the eastern perimeter of the lake.

Wildlife:

Lion, leopard, black & white rhino, Rothschild giraffe, eland, warthog, impala, waterbuck, zebra, buffalo, hippos, clawless otters, baboons & Colobus monkeys and pythons.

Birdlife:

450 species including Greater & Lesser Flamingoes and other water birds, as well as a large variety of terrestrial birds.

Roads:

Roads and tracks are usually navigable by 2WD vehicles.

Accessibility:

Accessible by road with 2WD vehicle from Nairobi (2 hours drive) and most game parks and reserves. Accessible by air from all over the country, on charter flights to Naishi airstrip.  

 

What can I do there?

  • Game drives
  • Sundowners
  • Bush breakfasts, lunches and dinners
  • Night game drives outside the park
  • Bird watching
  • Massage
  • Swimming in the lodge pool

 

Where can I stay?

  • Luxury lodges in the park and luxury tented camps outside the park

 

Best time to visit

All year round.