Straight answers
Lake Nakuru, answered plainly
Including the times we would tell you not to go.
The park
Birds, rhino and expectations
Are the flamingos really gone?
Not gone — reduced and variable. Water levels rose from around 2013, the lake became less alkaline, the algae declined and many birds moved elsewhere in the Rift chain. Expect some flamingos, not a wall of pink. Lake Bogoria has generally been more reliable.
Is rhino viewing guaranteed?
Nothing is guaranteed, but it is about as close as Kenya gets. The park is fenced and functions as a sanctuary, so white rhino in particular are seen on most drives. Black rhino are present but favour thicker cover.
Is it good for children?
Very. It is small, fenced, two and a half hours from Nairobi, and the drives are short. The baboon troops alone will occupy a seven-year-old for an hour.
What is the fever tree forest?
Stands of yellow-barked acacia along the lake edge. Genuinely beautiful and unlike anything else on a standard Kenya itinerary — one of the better reasons to stop.
The route
Fitting it in
Should we include Nakuru?
If you are driving to the Mara, yes. If you are flying, no. If you are already going to Ol Pejeta, probably not — you will see more rhino there, with night drives and walking that a national park cannot offer.
Can we fly to Nakuru?
There is an airstrip but it is rarely used by visitors, and flying rather defeats the point. Nakuru exists on an itinerary to break a drive; if you are not driving, it has no job to do.
Where should we stay?
Lodges inside the park sit on the escarpment with a view down over the lake. Hotels in Nakuru town are cheaper and perfectly fine for a single night. Lake Naivasha, an hour away, works as a base for both lakes.
How far ahead should I book?
For July to October — the migration months in the Masai Mara — six to twelve months is normal, and the best small camps sell out first. Christmas and New Year book up just as early.
For the shoulder months, three to four months is usually comfortable. Inside eight weeks we can still put a very good trip together, but you are choosing from what is left rather than from everything.
Who actually arranges my safari?
This site is a planning guide. When you send an enquiry it goes to Nomad Africa, our partner travel agency in Kenya, who prepare your itinerary and quote and handle the booking, the payments and you on the ground.
You deal with one team from the first email to the airport transfer home.
More from our Kenya guides
Specialist guides across our Kenya network
Each of these is a focused guide we publish. Same Kenya specialist behind every enquiry.
Not sure Nakuru belongs on your trip?
Send us the rest of the itinerary. We will tell you plainly, including when the answer is no.