DESTINATION GUIDE // KENYA
Lake Nakuru National Park
A soda lake ringed by flamingos, fenced against poachers and the surest place in Kenya to see both black and white rhino.
188 km2
PARK AREA
Both
RHINO SPECIES
450+
BIRD SPECIES
160 km
FROM NAIROBI
Year round
GOOD VIEWING
Quick answer: Lake Nakuru National Park surrounds a shallow alkaline lake in the Great Rift Valley, about 160 km northwest of Nairobi and reachable in under three hours. At 188 square kilometres it is compact and entirely fenced, which has made it one of Kenya most successful rhino sanctuaries.
OVERVIEW AND LOCATION
Lake Nakuru National Park At A Glance
Nakuru is the easiest major park to reach from Nairobi, which makes it the natural first or last stop on a Kenyan circuit. The fence that protects its rhino also concentrates game, so a single day here often produces more sightings than two elsewhere. Flamingo numbers rise and fall with the lake water level, so treat them as a bonus rather than a guarantee.
| Detail | At a glance |
|---|---|
| Location | Nakuru County, Great Rift Valley, central Kenya |
| Distance from Nairobi | Approximately 160 km, 2 to 3 hours by road |
| Size | 188 km2 |
| Established | Bird sanctuary in 1961, national park in 1968 |
| Altitude | 1,754 metres |
| Time zone | EAT, GMT +3 |
WILDLIFE AND ACTIVITIES
What You Will See and Do
Black and White Rhino
The fenced sanctuary holds both species. White rhino graze the open lakeshore in daylight; black rhino favour the thicker bush and take more patience.
Flamingos and Pelicans
When water levels suit, hundreds of thousands of lesser flamingo line the shallows, alongside great white pelican and over 450 other recorded species.
Rothschild Giraffe
Translocated here for protection, this endangered subspecies is now common in the acacia woodland on the eastern side of the park.
BEST TIME TO VISIT
When To Go
| Months | What to expect | Crowds |
|---|---|---|
| Jun to Oct | Dry, easy roads, best all round game viewing | High |
| Jan to Mar | Warm and clear, good birding, moderate visitors | Medium |
| Apr to May | Long rains, lush, lake levels high, very quiet | Low |
| Nov to Dec | Short rains, migratory birds arrive, good value | Medium |
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