Kenya · National park
Lake Nakuru National Park
Rhinos, flamingos and the Rift Valley
Size
About 188 km²
Location
Central Rift Valley, Kenya
Best time
Jun–Mar; good all year
Known for
Rhinos · Flamingos · Birds
About the park
A fenced sanctuary in the Rift
Lake Nakuru is a soda lake on the floor of the Great Rift Valley, ringed by yellow-barked acacia forest, grassland and steep escarpments. It became one of Kenya's first rhino sanctuaries and is fenced, which makes it one of the most reliable places in the country to see both black and white rhino.
The lake is famous for flamingos, though their numbers rise and fall with the water level and can move to other Rift lakes. Whatever the flamingos are doing, the park is excellent for rhino, Rothschild's giraffe, lion and leopard, and an easy stop between Nairobi and the Mara.
Highlights
Why visit Lake Nakuru
Rhino sanctuary
Excellent chances of black and white rhino on a single drive.
Flamingos & birds
Flamingos, pelicans and more than 450 bird species around the shore.
Rothschild's giraffe
One of the rarest giraffe subspecies, reintroduced to the park.
Viewpoints
Baboon Cliff and Out of Africa lookout give sweeping lake views.
When to visit
Good all year, as the park is small and roads are well maintained. The drier months, June to March, are best for game viewing; flamingo numbers vary from season to season, so ask us about current conditions.
Wildlife you may see
Black and white rhino, Rothschild's giraffe, lion, leopard, buffalo, waterbuck, zebra, baboon, flamingo, pelican, fish eagle and many other water birds.
Getting there
About 3 hours by road from Nairobi, and about 4–5 hours on to the Maasai Mara, so it fits naturally on a road safari through the Rift Valley.
Visit with Asili
Safaris to Lake Nakuru
Plan your Lake Nakuru safari
Add a night at Lake Nakuru on the way to the Mara for some of the best rhino viewing in East Africa.
Enquire now