Lake Nakuru in Kenya is just a three-hour drive from Nairobi in the Great Rift Valley. It boasts an abundance of wildlife and spectacular landscapes. Think black and white rhinos, lions, leopards, cheetahs, and hippos occupying euphorbia forests, acacia woodlands, savannah grasslands,s and rocky escarpments around a shallow, alkaline lake.
The Lake Nakuru National Park is one of the top tourist destinations in Africa, famed for the Flamingos, both lesser and greater, that flock to its shores to feed on the cyanobacteria that live in its alkaline waters. It is a very important breeding ground and stopover for many species of birds and has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Up until 2014, Lake Nakuru was renowned for its vast flamingo population (sometimes more than 1.5 million of them at one time), which covered the lake in a blanket of pink plumes. However, rising water levels from heavy flooding have drastically reduced this phenomenon, shrinking their breeding and feeding grounds. Flamingos may not be as abundant as they once were, but a safari at Lake Nakuru still delivers some of the best wildlife viewing in Kenya.
Lake Nakuru is one of the most famous soda lakes in Eastern Africa’s Great Rift Valley lake system and is the heart of Lake Nakuru National Park. The richness of wildlife lends itself to incredible photographic opportunities from captivating landscapes to emotive wildlife portraits.
The park is on the smaller side – 188 sq. km (73 sq. mi) – but this makes it easier to cover its hills, grasslands, and forests. And, to spot the wildlife as you safari through its verdant topography.
Location
Near to Nairobi – 170 km (105 mi) – it’s easily reached in just a few hours. You can take a day trip and even combine it with other nearby parks.
Climate
The park has a surprisingly higher elevation at 1,756 m (5757 ft.) and is cooler than most Kenyan parks, even though it is near the equator. Not too hot or cold, nor wet or dry. Temperatures range from 120 – 250 c (540 – 770 f).
The Lake Nakuru National Park has a moderate climate but can be hot and humid, although it does not get as hot as other parts of Kenya such as Amboseli. The area has two main wet seasons, from March to May and October to December. The rain is usually in the form of short heavy downpours in the early afternoon, otherwise, the weather is generally fine.
The best time to visit
Lake Nakuru is open throughout the year. Even the rainy season can’t put a damper on travel through the park as the roads are well-maintained. However, the dry season from July through December still presents the best conditions for spotting the park’s colorful diversity of wildlife.
Operating hours
The park is open from 6 am to 6 pm daily. Entry is not allowed on foot and visitors can only hike in special areas in the company of a Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) Ranger.
What to do in the Lake Nakuru National Park
The main way to experience the Lake Nakuru National Park is on a game drive. This is best done in the company of an expert guide who knows their birds, as they are the main attraction in this Park
