Best of Nakuru

Top itineraries and travel advice in and around Nakuru

In the southern Rift Valley, Kenya’s fourth-largest city lies near archeological sites and wilderness reserves with exceptional wildlife watching. The chief draw and city's namesake is Lake Nakuru National Park, which is home to lions, leopards, rhinos and enormous flocks of pink flamingos. The lake and its surrounding forests make up one of Kenya’s finest national parks. Many travelers visit on day trips from Nairobi (which lies just two hours to the southwest), though you can also stay overnight in tented camps and lodges overlooking the lake.

Experienced guides can take you to prime spots for viewing wild animals, with the possibility of seeing both black and white rhinos, tree-climbing lions and endangered Rothschild's giraffes. The lake is also a major bird sanctuary, with over recorded 400 species, including five in danger of extinction. Southeast of Nakuru, Kariandusi is the famed spot where the Leakeys discovered primitive tools made by early humans over one million years ago. Excavation sites and a museum shed light on the region’s fascinating human history.

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You're sure to spot lions on game drives through Masai Mara National Reserve

Kenya National Parks & Wildlife Safari - 7 Days

This one-week adventure celebrates the best of Kenya, from its rich culture to its dramatic landscapes and exotic wildlife. After a night in the dynamic capital of Nairobi, a private driver will take you to some of the country's star locales, including Lake Nakuru National Park, the Great Rift Valley, and the legendary Masai Mara Reserve. At each, you'll spot Big Five safari animals, flocks of flamingoes, wildebeests, and much more— plus soar over the African savanna in a hot-air balloon!

Flocks of flamingoes are common on lakes Nakuru, Naivasha, and Bogoria

Kenya Birdwatching Safari - 5 Days

Nature enthusiasts will love this 5-day adventure that visits four different Kenyan lakes known for birds and wildlife. A private driver will first take you to Lake Naivasha for a boat tour and island walk, where you'll get up close to a range of bird species, as well as zebras and giraffes. Next is Lake Nakuru where you'll join a safari in a vast wildlife preserve. Finish the trip on Lake Baringo and Lake Bogoria for quality time to experience the Rift Valley by car, boat, foot, and bicycle.

Pack the most wildlife into your short safari adventure with game drives in the Masai Mara

Kenya Safari Highlights: Nakuru, Masai Mara & Lake Naivasha - 5 Days

Have under a week to spare for the safari adventure of a lifetime? Not a problem when your destination is Kenya. Enjoy five action-packed days, starting with Lake Nakuru, whose wetland ecosystem is a haven for wildlife ranging from flamingoes to rhinos. Continue on to the savanna plains of Masai Mara to spot lions, leopards, and other specimens before finishing with water safaris at Lake Naivasha and a trip to marvel at the soaring cliffs of Hell's Gate.

Kenya Wildlife Safari - 10 Days

This exciting 10-day itinerary allows you to truly discover Kenya's diverse wildlife and dramatic landscapes. Your trip will start in the bustling central city, Nairobi before you depart for the countryside and visit Amboseli National Park, which is home to Africa's highest peak, Mount Kilimanjaro. Over these 10 days, you will also see the most famous Kenyan parks, including Hell's Gate, Mount Longonot, Lake Nakuru, Lake Bogoria, and Maasai Mara, which are home to thousands of wildlife species as well as incredible hiking trails and viewpoints.

Kenya Wildlife Safari & Cultural Immersion - 7 Days

Enjoy the best natural and cultural experiences that Kenya has to offer in a quick but comprehensive seven-day tour. After a day exploring the attractions of Nairobi, hit the ground running at the Lake Nakuru National Park, one of the finest wildlife areas in the country. Get a close-up experience of local Maasai culture and the Maji Moto Maasai Cultural Camp, an authentic example of how the Maasai people live and work these days. End with a bang, at the world-renowned Maasai Mara Wildlife Reserve, where you'll enjoy several morning and afternoon safari expeditions, for the greatest chances of seeing the Big Five, and much more.

Visit Lake Nakuru to see the flocks of flamingoes

Epic Wildlife Adventure in Kenya & Tanzania - 21 Days

Dive into Kenya and Tanzania's cultural and natural wonders on this three-week itinerary, starting with a tour of Nairobi led by a former street kid. Visit elephants and giraffes at two sanctuaries before embarking on thrilling game rides in three national parks. Transfer to Arusha in Tanzania, where more wildlife adventures, a hot-air balloon ride over the Serengeti, and a Maasai cultural experience await. Finish back in Nairobi for a bean-to-cup coffee experience at a nearby estate.

South Africa Adventure & Kenya Safari - 14 Days

You can see South Africa and Kenya on this wide-ranging two-week tour around both countries. Start in Cape Town, where you'll hike to the top of Table Mountain, taste locally produced wines, and see whales and penguins in their natural habitats. Then cross the border to Kenya, where national parks and lakes rich with wildlife await. You'll enjoy multiple safari days, spotting elephants, giraffes, and lions in the wild. You'll also have the chance to interact with local people during a visit to the Maji Moto Maasai Cultural Camp.

Kenya Birdwatching & Safari Trip - 14 Days

With more than 1,100 species of birds, Kenya is a paradise for birdwatchers. This 14-day itinerary will take you through some of the country's most beautiful landscapes to see a wide variety of birds in their natural habitats. Begin with a free day in Nairobi before transferring to Samburu Reserve for your first guided safari. Then you'll take a birdwatching hike up Mount Kenya, tour the Elsamere Conservation Center, and see hundreds of flamingoes at Lake Elmenteita. End your trip with multiple days in the Maasai Mara National Reserve.

Wildlife & Culture in Kenya - 14 Days

Explore nature and wildlife in Kenya with safaris and visits to Maasai villages in several national parks, starting with the famous pink flamingos at Lake Bogoria and Lake Nakuru. Watch Maasai Mara's Great Migration from land and air in an optional hot air balloon ride, then visit the giraffes of Crescent Island on Lake Naivasha. Search for the Big Five and enjoy scenes of elephants grazing below Mt. Kilimanjaro in Amboseli National Park before returning to Nairobi to visit the Giraffe Center and Kazuri bead workshop.

Kenya Wildlife Photography Safari - 21 Days

This 21-day trip is a wonderful fit for photographers looking to see the African landscape and its impressive wildlife. Visit 10 different parks and conservations to find the big five–lions, buffalos, elephants, and leopards. Bask in the shadow of Mt. Kilimanjaro, the highest in Africa, and Mt. Kenya, the second-highest in Africa. Along the way you'll also see the Great Rift Valley and meet local people, making the entire itinerary a "photographer's paradise" and an incredibly memorable trip to Africa.

Wildlife and Beaches of Kenya - 10 Days

Offering a mix of active adventures, cultural sightseeing, and relaxation, this 10-day tour of Kenya has something for everyone. Enjoy a safari experience in Maasai Mara National Reserve, interact with baby elephants at an elephant orphanage, and learn about Maasai traditions at Maji Moto Maasai Cultural Camp. Wrap up with a few days on the white sands of Diani Beach before heading back to Nairobi.

Kenya Family Safari: Nairobi, Nakuru, Maji Moto, Masai Mara - 8 Days

This eight-day safari tour of Kenya includes a range of wildlife and cultural activities that will appeal to both kids and adults. The itinerary fits a lot into a little more than a week, but you have enough time in each place to take it easy and not exhaust the younger members of the family (or the older ones!) Enjoy game drives in the unparalleled Maasai Mara Reserve, spend time with Maasai people in their villages to better understand their way of life, and have close encounters with a wide range of wildlife.

Experience the remarkable diversity of species in the Masai Mara National Reserve

Kenya Safari Highlights: Nairobi, Masai Mara & Lake Naivasha - 10 Days

Journey to East Africa and experience the natural and cultural highlights of the continent in one of the best places for it: Kenya. Perfect first-timers, this safari adventure will take you both on and off the beaten path, starting with game drives around the capital city of Nairobi, followed by a deeper dive into the legendary Masai Mara, ancestral home of the Maasai people. Then venture to the wetland ecosystem of Lake Naivasha, where boat tours get you up close to hippos, crocs, and more.

Rhinos in Kenya, one of the so-called "Big Five"

"Big Five" Safari Experience - 10 Days

Explore Kenya's wildlife, landscapes, and native culture on this diverse 10-day itinerary. After taking in sweeping views of the Great Rift Valley, you'll go on safari tours in Lake Nakuru National Park and Maasai Mara National Reserve. Then you'll have the chance to tour a Maasai village, visit a pair of national parks, hike to the summit of Mt. Longonot, and see elephants in the wild at the foot of Mt. Kilimanjaro.

This epic two-week safari features some of Kenya's best elephant-spotting locales, including Amboseli National Park

Kenya Safari Highlights: Nakuru, Masai Mara, Naivasha, Amboseli & Tsavo — 14 Days

For culture, natural beauty, and exotic wildlife, you can't do better than Kenya. It's home to ancient ethnic cultures, like the Maasai people, plus many national parks and reserves—one of which runs right up to Nairobi's city limits. This ultimate two-week itinerary is packed full of adventures, including safaris in Nairobi National Park, Masai Mara, and Amboseli, hand-feeding giraffes, marveling at the red elephants of Tsavo, traveling to the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro, and much more.

Best of Kenya: Landscape, Safari, & Beach - 12 days

If you want to experience all of Kenya's top destinations—while also getting the chance to lay back and relax—this exciting 12-day itinerary is for you. You'll start the trip in the bustling capital Nairobi before departing for Kenya's national parks to discover majestic landscapes, see the Big Five, spot diverse bird species, visit chimpanzees, watch an animal migration at Maasai Mara, swim in turquoise blue water, and more.

Marathoner Catherine Ndereba looking out over Iten

Running Experience in Kenya - 10 Days

Runners will delight in this active tour of Kenya. The itinerary features three nights in the small town of Iten, known as the "Home of Champions," a safari in the country's best wildlife reserve, and a few days to relax on Diani Beach. You'll spend an afternoon watching Olympic athletes and elite marathoners train at Kamariny Stadium, enjoy a hot air balloon ride over the Mara River, and swim in the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean.

Other popular travel destinations in Kenya
Nairobi · Masai Mara · Maji Moto · Amboseli National Park · Samburu Reserve · Diani Beach · Nanyuki · Lake Naivasha · Laikipia · Tsavo National Park · Mombasa

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