Lake Nakuru day trip from Nairobi

Highlights

Inclusions

Itinerary

1. Start with an early morning pickup from your Nairobi hotel at 6:00 AM. The 160 km drive northwest via the Nairobi-Nakuru Highway (A104) takes 3 hours. Pass through the scenic Great Rift Valley, with key points of interest including views of the Rift Valley Escarpment and glimpses of Mount Longonot, a dormant volcano. This journey offers a stunning introduction to Kenya’s diverse terrain at sunrise.

   10 min

2. Arrive at Lake Nakuru National Park, the primary attraction, around 9:00 AM and complete entry formalities at the main gate. This compact park features a soda lake, acacia forests, and grasslands. Embark on a 2.5-hour open-vehicle game drive to explore its ecosystems. Key attractions include Lake Nakuru, often lined with thousands of pink flamingos, as well as rhinos (both black and white), leopards, lions, buffalos, zebras, giraffes, and over 450 bird species like pelicans and fish eagles. The Euphorbia Forest, one of Africa’s largest candelabra tree forests, adds a dramatic backdrop to the wildlife sightings.

   3 h

3. Head to Makale Falls, a scenic viewpoint offering panoramic views of Lake Nakuru, its flamingo-lined shores, and surrounding acacia woodlands. This landmark is perfect for photography and spotting baboons or other wildlife against the Rift Valley backdrop. Enjoy a packed lunch (provided as part of the tour) at this scenic spot, with views of the lake and distant Menengai Crater, offering a quick yet relaxing break to reflect on the morning’s encounters.

   2 hAdmission included

4. Depart Lake Nakuru at 2:00 PM for the 3-hour return journey to Nairobi along the Nairobi-Nakuru Highway. Enjoy final views of the Rift Valley Escarpment and passing landscapes. Arrive back at your hotel by 5:00 PM, reflecting on the day’s highlights, from the flamingo-filled lake and rare rhinos to the stunning vistas at Baboon Cliff, for a memorable safari conclusion.

   Passes by

Cancellation

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.

Know before you go

How it compares in Nairobi

• Its from-price is 18% above the median of the 570 day trips we list in Nairobi.
• Its length is typical for the group.
• The operator lists free cancellation on it.

About Nairobi

Nairobi is Kenya's energetic capital and the starting point for East African safari, with a national park where wildlife roams beneath the city skyline.

Nairobi National Park lies just beyond the suburbs, and its lions, rhinos, giraffes and buffalo can be seen with skyscrapers on the horizon. Close by, an orphanage raises young elephants rescued from across Kenya, and the Giraffe Centre lets visitors meet rare Rothschild's giraffes eye to eye from a raised platform.

Top-ranked sights in Nairobi: Nairobi National Park, Giraffe Centre, Lake Naivasha.

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