Experiences in Lake Nakuru | Timbuktu Travel

What to do in Lake Nakuru

One of Kenya’s most popular national parks thanks to its easy location and dreamy scenery, Lake Nakuru is varied and diverse and home to a good cast of the animal kingdom. As ever, game drives are the name of the game and you’ll traverse terrain ranging from the mist-shrouded lakeshore to pretty acacia woodlands. White rhino are plenty, especially by the lake, and giraffe, hippo and buffalo are also easy to spot. The big cats are present but elusive, and interestingly, there are no elephants. The park is fenced so if you’re visiting slightly off-season, game viewing should still be good – but it does get busy. The birding at Nakuru is glorious. Whilst the famous pink flamingo (Greater and Lesser species) are not quite as numerous as they once were, they still make a pretty sight - and 500 recorded species of other birds should make up for it. Raptors include Verreaux’s and the long-crested eagle, and the long-tailed widowbird is another excellent tick on your bird list.

Track Lake Nakuru's wildlife on a game drive

Depart from camp as the morning breaks over the plains and the wildlife wakes, or after a siesta in the late afternoon, for a game drive in the bowl of the Great Rift Valley. And believe us, there's plenty to see... Keep your binoculars and camera on hand to spot vast herds of stamping buffalo, prides of lion peering out from the savannah and unmistakable swish of a leopard's tail in the treetops. The park is also home to rare white and black rhino! Trundle past Lake Nakuru where you'll revel in the birdlife, from the tiniest colourful bee-eater to the Verreaux's eagle soaring regally overhead.

Spot the Black and White Rhino in Lake Nakuru

Lake Nakuru may dazzle with its birdlife, but its shores attract some rather special visitors too. Take in the startling sight of rare white rhino as they walk beside the lake to enjoy a drink before ambling on to graze in the expansive plains . They're also joined by the elusive black rhino, distinguished by its hooked lip and feisty attitude. As the only entirely fenced national park in all of Kenya, Lake Nakuru has become a haven for these endangered and very rare beauties. On a game drive through this wild corner of the Great Rift Valley, enjoy the bucket list-worthy chance to see the black and white rhinos on their own turf.

Spot spectacular birdlife in Lake Nakuru

If we had to pick one thing that puts Lake Nakuru a head and feathers above the rest, it would be the mesmerising birdlife. Leave the jeep behind to take a walk along the lakeside where you'll see plumage of every colour. Lake Nakuru was made iconic by its flocks of rose-hued flamingos, and after leaving for eight years, the lake's star players have returned to delight twitchers once again. With 500 species and counting, there is plenty more to see. Scan the water and skies for gluttonous pelicans, elegant cranes and the striking long-tailed widowbird. March to May is your best bet for seeing the most birdlife as migratory birds also settle on the lake, while November to April is breeding season when many species are dressed in their finery.

Lake Nakuru

What to do in Lake Nakuru

Track Lake Nakuru's wildlife on a game drive

Spot the Black and White Rhino in Lake Nakuru

Spot spectacular birdlife in Lake Nakuru

More experiences

Visit the wildlife on Crescent Island, Lake Nakuru

Visit Hell's Gate National Park

Go on a boat ride on Lake Nakuru

Take a boat safari on Lake Nakuru

Still not sure what to do?