Lake Nakuru National Park
Lake Nakuru National Park is located in the central parts of Kenya’s Rift Valley region about 160 kilometers northwest of Nairobi, the park is one of the country’s best tourism destinations because of its ecologically diverse system. The park is well known for its stunning landscapes and biodiversity due to the significant conservation work done here. The park derives its name from “Lake Nakuru” which is a shallow lake with alkaline water that serves as a habitat for a variety of birds but most notably “the pink Flamingos”. The park is made up of Lake Nakuru, savannah grasslands, woodlands and cliffs which provide for a stunning view for game watching.
Background of Lake Nakuru National Park.
The park was established in 1961 when it was gazetted as a national park covering a total area of 188 square kilometers around the famous Lake Nakuru and Nakuru town. The park started off small covering the lake and the surrounding mountainous areas but it has since expanded to include large parts of the nearby savannah lands. The park is best known for its thousands to millions of Flamingos that nest along the shores of the lake. From a distance, the surface of the lake looks outstanding with the striking pink color of the flamingos that stay around the waters. The lake has provided for the flamingos hence their ever presence. The park has recently been enlarged further to provide a sanctuary home to the protected Giraffes and Blank and white rhinos; a fence was put up to stop poachers from hunting down the endangered mammals. With these endeavors, the number of eastern black rhinos has gone up which is a real sign of the conservation efforts.
Activities to do in Lake Nakuru National Park
- Baboon Cliff
- Makalia Falls
- Rhino Sanctuary
- Lion Hill
- Euphorbia Forest
- Menengai Crater
- Game Drives
- Bird Watching
- Nature Walks
- Photography
- Picnicking
- Wildlife Viewing
- Visit Makalia Falls
Popular Safari Adventures in the Lake Nakuru National Park.
4-Day Budget Maasai Mara & Lake Nakuru Safari
8-Day Kenya Safari Masai Mara Nakuru Naivasha Amboseli
10 days Kenyan Ultimate Safari
When is the best time to visit Lake Nakuru National Park?
The best time to visit Lake Nakuru National Park is during the dry season of January to March and July to September. During this time the weather is more predictable, wildlife viewing easy and the roads are very easy to access compared to the long rainy months from April to June and the short rains from October to December. During this time the grass is tall and viewing wildlife is harder but not impossible. The roads are wet and harder to pass. That said the park is open for visiting all year round and anytime of the year that you come you will be able to see wildlife in plenty. Encounter Africa Safaris specializes in organizing trips around Kenya and any time you reach out to us we will tailor for you a package. Click here to get in touch.
Are tours to Lake Nakuru National Park suited for everyone?
Our tours to Lake Nakuru National Park are for all people and all age groups, they provide for the old, young and even those with disabilities. These include wildlife safaris, birding, watching for the birders, and family tours. With the excellent biodiversity of the park, everyone is catered for and the opportunities are many to see wildlife on a wildlife safari. flamingos, rhinos, and bird species among others with 4 of the big 5 present (Lions, Buffalos, rhinos and leopards) all present, you are in for a treat.
Obtaining a Visa for Kenya
Kenya has now moved to the new visa online application system which requires all visitors to fill in an online application form and pay the required fees where applicable. The process is simple and less time consuming compared to the old system. Click here for the online application portal to complete your visa.
How to get to Lake Nakuru National Park.
By Air: This is the fastest way to reach Lake Nakuru National Park, take a flight from Nairobi at Wilson Airport using any of the small regional operators that operate the route to the airstrip in the Park, the flight is about 45 minutes which makes it the quickest. Contact us for the availability of flights and booking for a flying tour to Lake Nakuru NP.
By Road: The drive is about a 5-6 hour drive and a very scenic experience for about 156km. The roads are rough but we offer 4×4 vehicles that handle the journey well and are suited for the terrain. The journey is very scenic and gives you a chance to see Kenya’s countryside.
Transportations we offer
We have Land cruisers each driven by professionally trained driver guides and fuel. They have pop-up roofs for proper game viewing and photography. They come with a small fridge for cooling your drinking water while on safari (which is always included while IN THE VEHICLE). They have inverters for charging small gadgets such as smartphones and cameras. They can seat five to a maximum of seven people and each client is guaranteed a window seat.
Accommodation to stay in will be visiting Lake Nakuru National Park.
Lake Nakuru National Park area offers a variety of accommodations to choose from ranging from luxury lodging options to mid range and budget options are all available to select from while here.
Luxury Lodges
Mid-Range Lodges
Budget Options
- Punda Milias Nakuru Camp
- Kambi Amani Eco-Camp
Campsites
- Makalia Campsite
- Riverside Campsite
Nearby Accommodations
- Mbweha Camp
- Ziwa Bush Lodge
Is it safe to visit Lake Nakuru National Park?
Lake Nakuru National Park is a very safe place to visit and Kenya as a country has prevailing peace and the people also are friendly. Finding crime towards travelers as uncommon as the reserve security does a lot of monitoring work to ensure that this prevails. But like anywhere around the world, you are encouraged to be cautious of your belongings as theft is common especially in the city and urban areas. Get in touch with us.
Why use Encounter Africa Safaris as your trusted operator.
Encounter Africa Safaris is one of the leading tour operators for the East African region, we have been organizing amazing experiences in Kenya National Parks for the last 15 years and are in a position to give you the best advice in terms of getting the best out of any penny spent. We have a team of competent safari designers and guides who will make sure that planning and executing your safari is done with ease. Encounter Africa Safaris is owned and run by Kenyans and part of the money paid by you is channeled to benefiting projects that support community development as well as conserving the environment. Follow this easy guide to Lake Nakuru National Park when choosing to book a safari and I assure you that the package will work out. Encounter Africa safaris is highly recommended on Trip Advisor as well as safari bookings. Feel free to visit these platforms and get to see what other clients say about our service.
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