Lake Nakuru Safari

Lake Nakuru is one of Kenya’s largest soda lakes and is best known for attracting large flocks of bright pink greater and lesser flamingos, whose bright plumage can be seen for miles. The Lake is truly a birder’s paradise, and during the right season or when the weather conditions are amenable, tens of thousands of water birds gather to feed on the shores.  

Some of the birds worth watching out for include the great white pelican, the blue-billed teal and the greater blue-eared starling. Do note however, that the flamingos visit Lake Nakuru perennially, also making visits to other soda-lakes in the Rift Valley region. 

The best time to visit Lake Nakuru for birding is between November and April – which includes the shoulder season and wet summer rains. Breeding season is in full throng, and the males show off fantastically with their puffed-up, bright plumage. But Lake Nakuru is also a national park, and its expanse is also home to a diverse number of animal species, such as impala, waterbuck, baboon and warthog. You may even spot the rare Rothschild’s giraffe, and both black and white rhino. 

Lake Nakuru is situated in west-central Kenya and forms part of the Great Rift Valley region, which is characterized by several soda lakes. Make sure to add a visit here into your longer Kenyan safari itinerary, as it’s a wonderful link between the Aberdares and Mount Kenya National Parks, and the Masai Mara for the Great Migration. 

Best Time to Visit Lake Nakuru

The best time to visit to visit Lake Nakuru is during the wetter summer months (November through April) as this is ideal for birding. However, the game-viewing is good throughout the year, and a visit here can be enjoyed during the peak dry season when safaris are most popular in the Masai Mara and Amboseli.