2 Days Lake Nakuru Safari Tour
A thousand flamingos lifting off at dawn, rhinos grazing by the shore
Gallery
The drive from Nairobi to Lake Nakuru takes about three hours, descending 600 metres through the Great Rift Valley escarpment. The viewpoint stop — a cliff edge overlooking the valley floor stretching to Mount Longonot and beyond — is worth fifteen minutes of your time. The scale of the Rift Valley, when you first see it, is genuinely staggering: a geological wound that runs from Lebanon to Mozambique, and you are standing on its edge.
Lake Nakuru itself is one of the Rift Valley's soda lakes, so alkaline that it supports little life except the cyanobacteria and algae that flamingos feed on. When conditions are right, the lake edge is a solid pink band — hundreds of thousands of lesser flamingos, the largest concentration anywhere in the Rift. The park is also a rhino sanctuary. You are almost guaranteed to see white rhino, and with luck, the shyer black rhino.
The southern end of the lake, below Flamingo Hill, is the best area for leopard sightings — they favour the tall yellow acacias. The park is compact — 188 square kilometres — and you can cover the key circuits in a single afternoon. But staying overnight gives you the morning light and the dawn chorus of birds. In 2011, Lake Nakuru was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the Kenya Lake System. The park entrance fee is $60 for non-resident adults, $35 for children. Bring a hat and a jacket — the altitude (1,754 metres) means it can be cool even on a sunny day.
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What's Included
- Transport in a safari van with pop-up roof
- Professional English-speaking driver/guide
- Lake Nakuru National Park entrance fees
- 1 night full-board accommodation at Lake Nakuru Lodge
- All meals (lunch day 1 to lunch day 2)
- Bottled drinking water
- Hotel pickup and drop-off within Nairobi
- Binoculars available on request
Not Included
- Alcoholic and soft drinks
- Souvenirs and personal purchases
- Tips and gratuities
- Travel insurance
Itinerary
Day-by-day breakdown of your adventure
Nairobi to Lake Nakuru — Afternoon Game Drive
Depart Nairobi after breakfast and drive through the scenic Great Rift Valley escarpment, with a brief stop at the viewpoint for panoramic photos. Arrive at Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge for lunch. In the afternoon, head into Lake Nakuru National Park for your first game drive. The park is famous for its flamingo-lined lake, white and black rhino sanctuary, and the rare Rothschild giraffe. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Morning Game Drive — Return to Nairobi
Rise early for a sunrise game drive when wildlife is most active. Spot waterbucks, zebras, buffaloes, and if lucky, leopards resting in acacia trees. Return to the lodge for a full breakfast, then check out and drive back to Nairobi. Arrive in the city by early afternoon with a drop-off at your hotel or the airport.
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