Lake Nakuru National Park surrounds a soda lake in the floor of the Rift Valley and is one of Kenya's more reliable parks for seeing both black and white rhino, thanks to a dedicated, actively-managed sanctuary within the park. The lake itself has historically been famous for large flamingo flocks, though numbers vary considerably from year to year with changing water levels.
Game drives focused on the rhino sanctuary
Birdwatching along the lakeshore
Baboon Cliff and other viewpoints over the lake
Photography of tree-climbing lions in the euphorbia and acacia woodland
The park is a year-round destination since it's a relatively small, closed ecosystem rather than a migratory one. Dry months generally make for easier driving and clearer lakeshore access.
Around 2.5-3 hours' drive from Nairobi via the Rift Valley escarpment, making it a practical add-on to a longer circuit rather than a long-haul destination on its own.
A mix of lodges and tented camps sit within and just outside the park boundary, generally at the mid-range to comfortable end of the spectrum.
One of the more compact parks - a single full day of game drives covers most of it
Malaria risk is lower here than in lower-altitude parks, but precautions are still sensible
Good road access makes this an easy stop on a Rift Valley circuit
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