Size

It takes up 17 square miles to be Lake Nakuru National Park.

History

In 1957, Lake Nakuru was made a protection area with a focus on the flamingos that lived there. In 1961, it was made a bird sanctuary. At first, the park was a great place to watch birds and shoot sporting targets. People come from all over Kenya to see this park. Lake Nakuru is a big reason why.

Fees and permits to get in

Each person must pay USD60 to enter Lake Nakuru.

When they are open

Lake Nakuru National Park is open every day from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., but after 6:15 p.m., no one is allowed to enter the park.

How to Get There

By Road

The Uhuru Highway/A104 will take you about three hours to drive from Nairobi, which is about ninety-five miles away. This park has three entrances: the Main Gate, the Lenit Gate, and the Nderit Gate, which isn’t used as often as the other two.

By Air

Wilson Airport in Nairobi is 81 miles from Lake Nakuru National Park. There are daily flights into the park’s Naishi Airstrip.

Best Time to Visit

Climate and weather

There are a lot of birds in Lake Nakuru National Park in January and February. You can see pink flamingos and more than 450 other bird types. In January and February, the weather is warm (around 77F during the day) and the air is dry. From late October to the end of December, it rains for a short time. The long rains happen in April and May. From June to August, when it’s dry and cold, is the best time to see wildlife.

Staying away from crowds

If you go to Lake Nakuru National Park between late May and the end of June, you’ll be able to enjoy it more before the busy winter season, when many more people and cars will be there. If you want to avoid people, you might want to go in the fall, between September and October. You could also go at the end of December to see the flamingos in all their beauty with not many people around.

Good Value for Money

Only three and a half hours north of Nairobi is Lake Nakuru, a beautiful national park with cheap places to stay and safaris to do. People like to go there, but it’s not as crowded as some of Kenya’s other, more famous parks.

Wildlife & Landscape

Wildlife that people like to see in Lake Nakuru National Park

Lake Nakuru National Park has a lot of birds. A lot of flamingos live around the Lake. The park’s fields are home to cape buffalo, zebras, and giraffes. Lions and leopards can be seen in the park’s bushlands. Hipos can be seen relaxing in the lake or walking along the edges at night.

The Ground

A large part of the park is fields, with euphorbia forests and bushlands, as well as acacia forests that add to the dramatic scenery. A big part of the area is the salt lake, which shines brightly among the park’s greens and browns.

Safari Experiences

Game Drives

Game drives in 4x4s are mostly run by private safari companies or ground handlers for people who are living at one of the park’s lodges or camps. The cars have pop-up roofs that make it easy to see animals. Visitors who are only there for the day can book planned game drives through the park’s services.

Safaris with a guide

A wildlife worker can lead guests on a walk to Baboon Hill. Get great views of Lake Nakuru National Park and enjoy the colors and beauty of this hunting haven.

Lodges & Camps

Lodges of different sizes make up most of the places to stay in Lake Nakuru National Park. In a beautiful safari setting, there are places to stay for people who want to go on safari as well as people who need conference or meeting rooms. All of the places to stay, from small lodges to large major hotels, are set up so that you can see Lake Nakuru and the wildlife that lives nearby.

Lake Nakuru National Park Lodging – Distance from park entrance