Rift Valley Escapes
Paired naturally with Lake Naivasha and Hell's Gate as a shorter, lake-and-escarpment circuit.
← All DestinationsKenya · 0.3°S, 36.1°E
Lake Nakuru
A Rhino Sanctuary Inside the Rift
A fenced sanctuary built around a shallow soda lake, with forested escarpment rising on one side and open grassland on the other. It's long been one of Kenya's most reliable places to see both black and white rhino.
What You'll See
Who Lives Here
Black Rhino & White Rhino
One of Kenya's earliest and most established rhino sanctuaries.
Rothschild's Giraffe
Introduced to the park as part of an earlier conservation programme; now well established.
Lesser & Greater Flamingo
Numbers here shift year to year with the lake's water level — sometimes vast, sometimes sparse.
Buffalo & Waterbuck
Common across the grassland bordering the lake.
The Landscape
Ground That Shapes the Light
A shallow alkaline lake ringed by acacia woodland and open grass plains, with the forested Mau and Bahati escarpments holding the skyline behind it.
Best Season
June to October, and January to February
The driest months bring wildlife closer to the lakeshore and the easiest driving on the park's roads.
Weather
What to Pack For
- Dry
- Jun – Oct, Jan – Feb
- 13–26°C
- Cool at altitude, clear skies most days.
- Wet
- Mar – May, Nov – Dec
- 14–24°C
- Rift Valley rains keep the grassland green.
Find Your Bearings
Lake Nakuru on the Map
Select any point to see where else the ground leads.
Recommended For Lake Nakuru
Built for This Exact Ground
Ready When You Are
Start Planning Your Lake Nakuru Safari
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