On the floor of the Great Rift Valley, surrounded by wooded and bushy grassland, lies the beautiful Lake Nakuru National Park. Here you enjoy the wide ecological diversity and varied habitats that range from Lake Nakuru itself to the surrounding escarpment and picturesque ridges. Lake Nakuru National Park is ideal for bird watching, hiking, picnic game drives, and boat riding.
Thousands of flamingos, joined into a massive flock, fringe the shores of this soda lake. A pulsing pink swathe of life that carpets the water, the flamingos are a breathtaking sight.
This is a major National Park and an important sanctuary for Rhino. Both Black and White Rhino are found here, and are often seen resting under acacias by the Lake shore.
The park abounds with game. There are huge herds of waterbuck, zebra, buffalo, the endangered Rothschild Giraffe and more.
This is one of your best chances of seeing Leopard in Kenya, and there are several large prides of Lion.
The park is compact at only 188 sq. km (162 sq. mi.) but that just adds to its accessibility and easy game viewing. The interior roads are well-maintained and easy to follow.
Location:
Lake Nakuru is 170 km (105 m) northwest of Nairobi. It’s close enough for a day trip or a longer stay in the area.
Climate:
The park has a higher elevation than most at 1,756 m (5757 ft.) and this has a cooling effect. Even though it’s near the equator, it rarely gets hot. Nor does it get too cold, too wet or too dry. Generally, the climate here is quite comfortable. However, there are intermittent late afternoon showers, but these tend to be more refreshing than an obstacle.
Best time to visit:
The park is open year-round. In many parks the wet season can put an end to game viewing but that’s not necessarily the case at Lake Nakuru. The roads are good and since the park is fenced, the animals won’t disperse.
Still, the most popular time for viewing is during the dry season from July to December.
Operating Hours:
Lake Nakuru Park operates from 06:00 Hrs. to 18:00 Hrs. daily. Note: No entry is allowed on foot and hiking is only allowed in designated areas with a KWS ranger.
