Lake Nakuru
Rhino country in the Rift Valley.
Lake Nakuru National Park surrounds a soda lake on the floor of the Great Rift Valley. The park is fenced and protected as a rhino sanctuary, and it is one of the most reliable places in Kenya to see both black and white rhino, along with Rothschild’s giraffe, buffalo and, with luck, leopard in the acacia woodland.
The lake is famous for its flamingos, though their numbers rise and fall with water levels and can be low in some years. Dexter will tell you honestly what to expect for your dates. At around three hours from Nairobi, Nakuru fits naturally on the road between the city and the Mara.
- GuideDexter, personally
- Ideal stay1–2 nights
- Getting thereBy road, on the way to the Mara
- Pairs well withThe Masai Mara
Wildlife to look for
Resident species you can expect most months, alongside anything seasonal.
Lake Nakuru, season by season.
Dry season
Good visibility and easy game viewing.
Short dry season
Warm, dry and quiet.
The rains
Lush and green; some tracks can be muddy.
Let's shape this around your dates.
Tell David when you're thinking of travelling and how many of you there are — he'll reply personally, usually within a day.
It's in Nairobi Dexter replies usually within a day