Overview

Lake Nakuru National Park was established in 1961. It now covers an area of 180km² (69.5 square miles) and is situated in the Great Rift Valley – 156km northwest of Nairobi in the Nakuru district of the Rift Valley Province. The park is managed by the Kenya Wildlife Service. Lake Nakuru is a large, shallow lake surrounded by marshes, woodland and grassland. There are some rocky outcrops and the largest euphorbia forest in Africa on the eastern side. The lake is fed by three main rivers; the Njoro, the Makalia and the Enderit rivers, as well as several springs. The park has very good roads and some excellent viewpoints overlooking the lake from Baboon Cliff and Lion Hill.

The lake supports the blue-green Cyanophyte Spirulina Platensis, which is the main food source for the brilliant pink flamingoes that can be found wading on the lake’s edge. At times, there can be up to two million greater and lesser flamingoes and tens of thousands of other birds. Food conditions change periodically, and the number of birds fluctuates at times so, if possible, you should check with the national park before making a long journey to view the birds. It is also a good idea to carry a spotter’s guide to identify the many animals and Kenya birds you will see here. Lake Nakuru National Park also offers sanctuary to huge numbers of native African animals including waterbucks, warthogs, impalas, buffalo, Rothschild giraffes, elands, endangered black rhinos, white rhinos and, occasionally, leopards. A large herd of hippos have a territory in the northern part of the lake, making for interesting game viewing visit lake Nakuru

Best Time to Visit

The best months to visit are June to September and January to March. However the rainy seasons are generally not as wet as other areas and the roads are good year-round.

Getting There

By Road: Use your own vehicle, take public transport, or book an open-topped minibus or safari van tour with a tour guide. It is 156km northwest of Nairobi to the main gate and 4km from Nakuru town. There are also gates – the Lanet gate from the Nairobi-Nakuru road and the Nderit Gate if traveling from Maasai Mara or Elementaita.

By Air: Chartered light aircrafts may land at Naishi airstrip.

Activities

Safari Package

Our Lodge is a great birding paradise destination for all bird watchers and enthusiasts, with more than 500 species of birds recorded at this park. The Lake Nakuru is a soda lake, which is a hotspot and supports a lot of birdlife, including large flocks of pelicans, flamingos, amongst other popular bird species such as the striking, Long-Tailed Widowbird and a good variety of raptors including Verreaux’s and Long-Crested Eagle. The best time to visit is from November to April, as this is also breeding season, many species are nesting at this time.

Tree Planting

We love for our guests to leave a little bit of themselves at our lodge; our tree planting sessions allow this to happen. Once you plant your tree, we look after it for you for a lifetime. We usually provide our guests with a choice of trees to pick from, or if they would like to bring their own, they must ensure that it is KWS approved. We advise our guests to request tree planting sessions in advance in order for us to adequately prepare.

Horse Riding

Our horse riding excursions take place at Flamingo Stables, located on the perimeter of the Lake Nakuru National Park. Flamingo Stables has been in existence for over 35 years and offers residents of Nakuru as well as our guests, the very best of horse riding services in the entire region. Experience a variety of wildlife as you meander through the outskirts of the park.

Bird Watching

Our Lodge is a great birding paradise destination for all bird watchers and enthusiasts, with more than 500 species of birds recorded at this park. The Lake Nakuru is a soda lake, which is a hotspot and supports a lot of birdlife, including large flocks of pelicans, flamingos, amongst other popular bird species such as the striking, Long-Tailed Widowbird and a good variety of raptors including Verreaux’s and Long-Crested Eagle. The best time to visit is from November to April, as this is also breeding season, many species are nesting at this time.

Bush BBQ / Bush Breakfast / Sundowners

Our Bush BBQ, bush breakfast as well as Sundowners are provided upon request, they allow our guests to relax and enjoy nature at its best. This services offer our clients the most unforgettable memories of bonding with nature.

Game Drive

Can you really say you visited us if you don’t take a game drive? Our location inside the park ensures that all our guests take a short mandatory game drive in order to access us. Expect to see well-known wildlife such as Lions, Rothschild Giraffe, Zebra, Waterbuck, Rhino and Buffalo’s among others.

Swimming

After a long day of travelling and game drives there’s nothing like a refreshing dip in our pool which allows our guests to be a part of the action without having to leave the pool. It overlooks a watering hole frequented by local wildlife and the park and lake beyond. Relax and soak in the most exotic views of the park.

Outside The Lodge

Baboon Cliff

This is the highest point at the Lake Nakuru National Park; it offers the most spectacular aerial views of the entire park with its absolute natural beauty, like the tropical forests, the yellow fever trees, the blue waters of the lake shining in the sun and the small hills in the background. It’s most beautiful at sunset as the light reflects off the water.

BagaMoyo Sewing project

An interesting project born out of Springs of Hope Kenya in 2009, that grants orphans and men and women living with HIV/AIDS an opportunity to realize their futures through the promotion of fine craftsmanship, a valuable job that grants both dignity and income to marginalized families. All BagaMoyo products are made from traditional Kenyan materials, such as Kitenges, Lesos, Maasai Shukas, Mud Cloth, Kikoys, and Kangas. These vibrant colors and patterns are then stitched with love into whimsical bags of every style, so that wherever you go, a piece of Kenya can travel with you.

Makalia Falls

Hidden on the southern end of the park are the supremely graceful Makalia falls, they are at their best between April and August where they swell after the rains. This spectacular natural wonder features a 10m drop off a sheer cliff and a large plunge pool. There’s nothing more relaxing and calming than meditating on the echoes of the falls

Lord Egerton Castle

A beautiful fortress located about 14km out of Nakuru town, designed by architect Albert Brown. Its foundation was laid in 1938 by Maurice Egerton, 4th Baron Egerton, who decided to build this castle after his love interest rejected their first house calling it a ‘chicken house’. The castle has 52 rooms including a dance hall with an electric organ, dark chamber for developing photos and a wine cellar.

Mwariki Community Project

This community project was started in 2009 by Lake Nakuru Lodge as a way of helping the community by using tourism to eradicate poverty. The Mwariki ladies use recycled materials to make wood crafts and beaded jewellery such as necklaces and bracelets as well as key holders. They have quite recently ventured into other projects such as water harvesting, where they encourage people to buy water tanks for the community, medical outreach and HIV/AIDS testing and counselling.

Hyrax- Hill Prehistoric Site

This Archaeological site 4km from Nakuru Town was proclaimed a national monument in 1945 and opened to the public in1965. The museum depicts the lifestyle of seasonal settlement by prehistoric people at least 3,000 years old, it was a former farmhouse ceded to the monument in 1965, by the late Mr. A. Selfe. Artefacts from the Hyrax Hill site and other sites in the Central Rift Valley are displayed here.

Menengai Crater

Menengai Crater is an impressive attraction that draws visitors from far and wide with it’s wide rim, plunging pools, and rugged terrain on the caldera floor, this massive shield volcano has one of the biggest calderas in the world. It is estimated to have been formed 8,000 years ago, at its highest the caldera walls rises to a staggering height of 500m off the floor. It has a diameter of 12km at its widest and 8km at its narrowest. The viewpoint has pretty impressive views of the caldera, Lake Nakuru as well as sweeping views of the entire town.

Westside Mall

The Westside Mall is situated in the town centre, it features favourite local stores as well as international ones, such as KFC, Java, Chinese restaurant, City Walk, Banks, Ashley’s Hair & Beauty among many others.

Uniqueness

1. Visit the Out of Africa lookout cliff

There are various vantage points in Lake Nakuru where you can have an amazing view of the lake as well as the town of Nakuru which has a hilly background. Out of Africa lookout is a vantage point in Lake Nakuru National park that gives you a picturesque view of the park. The out of Africa lookout is the highest point of the park but getting to its crest is steeper. However, ones on the top, the views of the park and the surroundings are sweeping.

2. Visit the Baboon Cliff

The Baboon cliff started a lunch spot where groups visiting the park would enjoy their packed lunch while enjoying the views of the lake. The Baboon cliff is famous for sightings of baboons that snatch people’s lunch. Apart from the out of Africa lookout, the baboon cliff is another place that you should visit. From the vantage point of the Baboon Cliff, you get to see the superlative views out over the lake, with some fine aerial vistas down onto the flooded lakeshore.

3. Visit the Makalia Falls

This fall is not popular with many visitors in the park. People visiting the park for some few hours do not get to chance to explore the park fully. The Makalia Falls are located to the extreme southern end of the park. If you are in the park for some days, you can camp in a nearby campsite near the falls.

4. Go for Birdwatching

Lake Nakuru is known for the sheer quantity of birds in the Park especially the flamingos that often visit the Lake. Since the introduction of a species of tilapia that is tolerant to salt lakes, the number of fish-eating birds in Lake Nakuru has significantly increased. The best way to interact with the birds is to visit the shores of the lake where you can see them up-close.