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Lake Nakuru National Park | Kenya’s Flamingo Haven
Lake Nakuru National Park lies on the floor of the Great Rift Valley. It is a blazing sea of millions of flamingos that create a spectacular deep pink coloration. Being a bird haven and attracting numerous migratory birds, Lake Nakuru National Park is an ideal destination for bird watching, hiking, picnics, and game drives.
Lake Nakuru National Park at a Glance
Lake Nakuru National Park is situated 2km north of Nakuru town and approximately 164 kilometres from Nairobi, sprawling over 188 km2/73 mi2 area at an altitude of 1758m asl. Open bush, acacia forest, waterfalls, grassland, euphorbia trees and woodlands typical of the dry rift valley vegetation dominate the park’s gently undulating landscape.
Up until a few years ago, Lake Nakuru National Park offered the most magnificent display of birdlife on earth thanks to the bright fuchsias that burst against the lake’s deep blue, alkaline waters. While the land in the catchment area is heavily used for agriculture, forestry, and ranching, the area around the lake is exclusively used for the conservation of wildlife.
Wildlife in Lake Nakuru

Lake Nakuru National Park is popular for the thousands of flamingos that nest along its shores, mainly because of the abundance of algae. Over 300 species of birds thrive in this habitat, as do baboons, warthogs, hyenas, jackals, wild dogs, buffalo, lions, leopards, and cheetahs. The park’s large bird reserve makes it an ideal destination for bird watching.
In 1983, Lake Nakuru National Park was declared a rhino sanctuary, which saw the introduction of the Eastern black rhinos and the Southern white rhinos from South Africa through its rhino stocking program. Currently, the sanctuary is home to approximately 45 black and 31 white rhinos.
The lake hosts a diverse range of aquatic plants and animals, despite its highly saline water. They include hippopotamus and clawless otters, among others. Its vicinity is fenced off as a sanctuary to protect the Rothschild’s giraffes and the rhinos and keep out poachers rather than restrict the movement of wildlife.
The introduction of a species of salt-tolerant Tilapia Rahami for mosquito control opened the way for the colonization of the lake by many species of fish-eating birds such as cormorants, pelicans, and hamerkops, among others.
Lake Nakuru National Park Safari Highlights
- Lake Nakuru is a popular alkaline lake in East Africa’s Great Rift Valley Lake System. Its alkaline nature further attracts an abundance of bird and animal species to its shores.
- The abundance of wildlife offers incredible photographic possibilities to capture everything from captivating landscapes to moving wildlife portraits.
- Its prolific birdlife, with an estimated 300 species, makes it an ideal birding destination and offers avid birders the opportunity to explore its diversity.
- Visitors can also enjoy breathtaking views of the Rift Valley landscape.
- You may unwind after a day of exploration at Lake Nakuru Lodge, a delightful eco-friendly retreat surrounded by untamed wildlife.
Best time to Visit Lake Nakuru
Between June and October is the best time to visit Lake Nakuru National Park. This is when there is virtually no rain and the vegetation is sparse, which makes it easier to spot wildlife. However, you can still visit Lake Nakuru National Park at any time of year, as it offers excellent wildlife viewing opportunities throughout the year.
Bird watchers also have a great diversity to explore in the wet season of March to May. During this time, it is the breeding season, with more thundershowers and abundant food that attracts migratory birds. Also, expect fewer crowds and low-season discounts.
How to Get to Lake Nakuru
Lake Nakuru National Park is located 155 km (96 mi) northwest of Nairobi and 5 km (3 mi) from Nakuru town. It is an easy-to-access destination by car via a tar road from Nairobi. It is also accessible from several other parks. For instance, Masai Mara is 235 km (150 mi) away in about six hours, and Samburu is 300 km (190 mi) north in about five and a half hours.
Driving from Laikipia Plateau hugely depends on which reserve you are coming from, but it could take anything from three to seven hours.
International flights arrive at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO), 15 km (9 mi) southeast of Nairobi. Airport transfers are usually prearranged. For domestic flights, tourists can use the Naishi airstrip, located in the southern part of the park. Stingers Africa Safaris usually takes care of charter-flight bookings between parks.
Where to Stay in Lake Nakuru


Privately Owned Lodges
- Lake Nakuru Flamingo lodge.
- Sarova Lion Hill Lodge.
- Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge.
- The Cliff Hotel
- Flamingo Hill Camp.
- Lake Nakuru Lodge.
Campsites
- Makalia Campsite.
- Reedbuck. Campsite.
- Naishi Campsite.
- Rhino Campsite.
- Chui Campsite.
- Baboon Cliff.
Ready for an adventure?
Lake Nakuru National Park is often combined with other Great Rift Valley lakes like Lake Naivasha and other conservation areas like the nearby Aberdare National Park. Therefore, these safaris are meant to give you a clue as to how different destinations and activities work together. Make sure you take time to make the best choice of destinations to visit on a Kenya safari before starting off. Stingers Africa Safaris will help you plan an exciting trip according to your style of travel.