Kenya attraction

Lake Nakuru and Naivasha

Rift Valley soda and freshwater lakes, rhino and hippo.

About this place

Lake Nakuru is a soda lake inside a fenced national park and one of Kenya's rhino sanctuaries, holding both black and white rhino along with Rothschild's giraffe. Naivasha, an hour south, is freshwater, and the reason to stop is that you can get out of the vehicle: boat trips, and walking or cycling among game on Crescent Island. Flamingo numbers at Nakuru vary enormously with water level and have not returned to their historic peaks.

What to do

Rhino tracking at Lake Nakuru

Boat trip on Naivasha for hippo and fish eagles

Walking or cycling on Crescent Island

Hell's Gate National Park gorge walk

Rothschild giraffe at Nakuru

Practical information

Both are an easy drive from Nairobi and make the usual overnight break on the road to the Mara. Do not come for flamingos alone: numbers depend on water chemistry and the birds move between Rift Valley lakes from one year to the next.

Combine with

Masai Mara

Nairobi

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Experiences here

All experiences
multiday 836 views

9 Days / 8 Nights Kenya Safari & Diani Beach: Nairobi, Maasai Mara & the Coast

9 Days / 8 Nights. Nairobi, two nights of full-board safari in the Maasai Mara with three game drives, then four nights…

  • Airport pickup at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport with meet and greet
  • private transfers with an English speaking driver
  • the Nairobi to Maasai Mara transfer
★ 0.0 9 Days / 8 Nights
$3800.00
Questions answered

Frequently asked questions

Major airlines include: South African Airways, Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways, Airlink, Fastjet, and British Airways (via Johannesburg). Connections are available from Johannesburg, Nairobi, Addis Ababa, and other hubs.

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