Rhino sanctuary
One of Kenya's best parks for seeing rhinos, both black and white.
Kenya · Central Rift Valley, Kenya
Lake Nakuru
Rhinos, a Rift Valley lake and its birdlife.
Lake Nakuru National Park surrounds an alkaline lake on the floor of the Great Rift Valley. It is a fenced rhino sanctuary, home to black and white rhinos, Rothschild's giraffe and a shoreline that can be lined with flamingos and pelicans.
- Country
- Kenya
- Known for
- Rhinos · lakeshore birdlife
- From Nairobi
- About 3 hours by road
- Ideal stay
- Half a day to 1 night
The place
Lake Nakuru, at a glance.
The park is compact, so a morning or afternoon game drive covers the lakeshore, acacia woodland and the escarpments around it. Baboon Cliff gives a view over the whole lake.
Flamingo numbers rise and fall with the lake's water level and food supply, so some years see far more birds than others. Pelicans, storks and many other waterbirds are usually present.
Our safaris stay at Buraha Zenoni in Nakuru town before or after a drive in the park.
The national park is fully fenced and was one of Kenya's first rhino sanctuaries. Rothschild's giraffe, one of the rarer giraffe subspecies, were introduced and now breed here, and the acacia woodland on the southern side is good leopard habitat.
Water levels in the Rift Valley lakes have risen markedly in recent years, flooding some shoreline areas. Routes inside the park change with conditions, and your guide will know which tracks are open.
Planning notes
- Official name
- Lake Nakuru National Park
- Region
- Central Rift Valley, Kenya
- Known for
- Rhinos · lakeshore birdlife
- From Nairobi
- About 3 hours by road
- Ideal stay
- Half a day to 1 night
- Combines well with
- Maasai Mara, Lake Naivasha, Amboseli
The appeal
Why visit Lake Nakuru?
Lakeshore birdlife
Pelicans, storks and, when conditions suit them, large flocks of flamingos.
Baboon Cliff
A viewpoint over the lake and the Rift Valley floor.
Easy to combine
Sits between Nairobi and the Maasai Mara, so it fits naturally into longer routes.
Wild encounters
Wildlife of Lake Nakuru.
White and black rhinos, Rothschild's giraffe, buffalo, waterbuck, zebras, lions, leopards, baboons and a wide variety of waterbirds. Wildlife is free-ranging, so sightings vary from day to day and can never be guaranteed.
White rhino mother and calf grazing 
Buffalo standing in the shallows among flamingos 
Male lion and lionesses resting on green grass among trees 
Pelicans taking off from the water
A sanctuary on the Rift Valley floor
Rhinos at Lake Nakuru.
Both black and white rhinos live in the sanctuary. White rhinos graze in the open and are the easier of the two to watch; black rhinos are shyer and browse in thicker bush.
Because the park is compact and fenced, a morning drive can cover the lakeshore, the woodland and the viewpoints, which makes Nakuru an efficient stop between Nairobi and the Maasai Mara.
Travel through the year
When to visit Lake Nakuru.
Lake Nakuru can be visited year-round. Flamingo numbers depend on lake conditions rather than the calendar.
Jan – Mar
Usually dry, with good game viewing around the lake.
Apr – May
Long rains; the park stays accessible and very green.
Jun – Oct
Dry and pleasant, a good time for game drives.
Nov – Dec
Short rains with brief showers.
Your way of travelling
Ways to experience Lake Nakuru.
Optional activities are arranged separately and may cost extra.
01
Rhino-focused game drive
Your guide works the grasslands near the shore, where white rhinos graze, and the bush where black rhinos browse.
02
Baboon Cliff
A short stop at the viewpoint for the classic view of the lake, the shoreline and the Rift Valley walls.
03
Birdwatching
Pelicans, storks, fish eagles and, when conditions suit them, flamingos. A long lens or binoculars help.
04
Makalia Falls
In the south of the park, a small waterfall that flows best after rain. Ask your guide if it suits the day's route.
The way there
Getting to Lake Nakuru.
By road
About 160 km north-west of Nairobi, roughly three hours depending on traffic.
On a longer safari
Usually visited between the Maasai Mara and Lake Naivasha or Amboseli.
Finding your pace
How long to stay.
A game drive
A morning or afternoon in the park covers its main areas.
1 night
Allows an evening arrival and an unhurried morning drive.
Where to stay
Accommodation in Lake Nakuru.
Our budget safaris use the property below. Mid-range and luxury lodges and camps are agreed with you after you enquire, based on your dates and preferences.
Hotel · Nakuru
Buraha Zenoni
A comfortable Nakuru base for rhinos and the Rift Valley.
Trip ideas
Short trip
4 Days Maasai Mara & Lake Nakuru Midrange SafariNairobi → Maasai Mara → Nakuru → Nairobi
Combine it
5 Days Maasai Mara, Lake Nakuru & Lake Naivasha Budget SafariNairobi → Maasai Mara → Nakuru → Lake Naivasha → Hell's Gate → Nairobi
The long way
14 Days Kenya & Tanzania Budget SafariNairobi → Maasai Mara → Nakuru → Lake Naivasha → Amboseli → Arusha → Tarangire → Lake Manyara → Serengeti → Ngorongoro → Arusha
18 safaris
Safaris that include Lake Nakuru.
4 days · Kenya · Private or group
4 Days Maasai Mara & Lake Nakuru Midrange Safari
Kenya's favourite short combination, in comfort
Wildlife safari · Mid-range
Two nights at a lodge in the Maasai Mara and a night at Buraha Zenoni in Nakuru, with a morning in Lake Nakuru National Park before returning to Nairobi.
Price on request
Group joining7 days · Kenya · Group joining
7 Days Maasai Mara, Lake Nakuru, Lake Naivasha & Amboseli Budget Safari
Kenya's essential circuit in a week
Wildlife safari · Budget
A week covering four of Kenya's best-known destinations: the Maasai Mara, Lake Nakuru, Lake Naivasha with Crescent Island, and Amboseli beneath Kilimanjaro.
From USD 840 pp
- Group joining
4 days · Kenya · Group joining
4 Days Maasai Mara & Lake Nakuru Budget Safari
Savannah and a Rift Valley lake
Wildlife safari · Budget
Two nights in the Maasai Mara, then a night in Nakuru and a morning game drive in Lake Nakuru National Park, known for its rhino sanctuary and lakeshore birdlife.
From USD 420 pp
Group joining4 days · Kenya · Group joining
4 Days Kenya Safari Holiday – Maasai Mara & Lake Nakuru
Mara plains and Nakuru's rhinos, with lodge stays
Wildlife safari · Mid-range
A mid-range version of the Mara–Nakuru route: two lodge nights in the Maasai Mara, a night at Buraha Zenoni in Nakuru and a final game drive in Lake Nakuru National Park.
Price on request
Group joining5 days · Kenya · Group joining
5 Days Maasai Mara, Lake Nakuru & Lake Naivasha Budget Safari
Kenya's classic Rift Valley loop
Wildlife safari · Budget
Two nights in the Maasai Mara, a game drive at Lake Nakuru, a night by Lake Naivasha and a final morning in Hell's Gate National Park.
USD 840 pp
5 days · Kenya · Private or group
5 Days Perfect Wildlife Kenya Safari Holiday
Mara, Nakuru and Amboseli in one journey
Wildlife safari · Mid-range
Three of Kenya's best-known parks in five days, with lodge stays: the Maasai Mara, Lake Nakuru and Amboseli beneath Kilimanjaro.
Price on request
Group joining5 days · Kenya · Group joining
5 Days Magical Kenya Lodge Safari
Ol Pejeta, Lake Nakuru and the Mara
Wildlife safari · Mid-range
A lodge safari that starts on the Laikipia plateau at Ol Pejeta Conservancy, continues past Thomson's Falls to Lake Nakuru and ends with two nights in the Maasai Mara.
Price on request
Group joining6 days · Kenya · Group joining
6 Days Maasai Mara, Lake Nakuru & Amboseli Budget Safari
Three classic parks on a budget
Wildlife safari · Budget
Six days covering the Maasai Mara, Lake Nakuru and Amboseli, with a full day in both the Mara and Amboseli, on a group-joining budget basis.
From USD 720 pp
6 days · Kenya · Private or group
6 Days Maasai Mara, Lake Nakuru & Lake Naivasha Budget Safari
The Rift Valley loop at an easier pace
Wildlife safari · Budget
Two nights in the Maasai Mara, a night in Nakuru and two nights by Lake Naivasha, with Hell's Gate and time on the lake.
Low season USD 830 ppHigh season USD 1,030 pp
Beyond Lake Nakuru
Where to next?
Ways to travel
Before you go
Practical notes.
Accommodation
Our safaris stay at Buraha Zenoni in Nakuru, close to the park gate.
Flamingos
Numbers vary with the lake level; ask us about recent conditions.
Common questions
Lake Nakuru, explained.
Will I see flamingos at Lake Nakuru?
Possibly. Flamingo numbers rise and fall with the lake's water level and food supply, so some visits see thousands of birds and others far fewer.
Can I see rhinos at Lake Nakuru?
Lake Nakuru is one of Kenya's best parks for rhinos, with both black and white rhinos in the sanctuary. Sightings are likely but never guaranteed.
How long should I spend at Lake Nakuru?
A half-day game drive is usually enough; an overnight stay makes the timing more relaxed.
Is Lake Nakuru National Park fenced?
Yes. The park is fenced to protect its rhinos, which is one reason sightings of white rhinos in particular are frequent.
Can Lake Nakuru be a day trip from Nairobi?
It is possible, at around three hours each way, but most travellers find it more relaxed as an overnight stop on the way to or from the Maasai Mara.
Where do our safaris stay near Lake Nakuru?
At Buraha Zenoni in Nakuru, a short drive from the park.
A little more clarity
Plan with confidence.
Your Lake Nakuru journey
Ready to see Lake Nakuru for yourself?
Explore safaris that include Lake Nakuru, or tell us how you would like to travel.