Located near Lake Nakuru's flamingo-rich waters, this Kenyan city serves as a key industrial hub and gateway to the Maasai Mara, with the Aberdare hills as its backdrop.
Nakuru, Kenya's fourth-largest city, lies 160 kilometers from Nairobi in the Great Rift Valley. You can watch thousands of pink flamingos wade through Lake Nakuru's alkaline waters, track black rhinos in acacia forests, or climb to the rim of Menengai Crater. The surrounding region includes archaeological sites with stone tools dating back 3,000 years and some of East Africa's most important wildlife areas.
Lake Nakuru National Park Wildlife
Lake Nakuru National Park surrounds a shallow alkaline lake bordered by acacia woodlands and savannah grasslands. Join morning or afternoon game drives to track both black and white rhinos through the park. You might spot leopards resting in trees, lions hunting in the grasslands, or Rothschild's giraffes browsing on acacia leaves. More than 450 bird species live in the park, including great white pelicans that regularly fly between Lake Nakuru and their nesting grounds at Lake Elmenteita.
Exploring Menengai Crater
Menengai Crater, dropping 483 meters from its rim, ranks as the world's second-largest surviving volcanic crater at 2,242 meters above sea level. Active steam vents and fumaroles dot the forested caldera floor. Drive or hike the 8-kilometer trail from Nyahururu road to reach the summit. Visit between 6 AM and 8 AM to see the steam vents most clearly against the morning light.
Getting Around Nakuru
Buses run between Nairobi and Nakuru every 30 minutes on the Nairobi-Nakuru Highway. Within the region, take Dondori Road C86 to reach central Kenya. Kabarak Airstrip sits 20 kilometers from downtown. When visiting Lake Nakuru National Park, enter through Lanet Gate if coming from Nairobi - it helps you bypass city traffic. The park's other access points include Main Gate and Nderit Gate.
Sports and Recreation
Watch teams compete at the annual Great Rift 10-a-side rugby festival in June, when 20 teams from across East Africa gather to play. Throughout the year, you can catch rugby matches at the 8,000-seat Afraha Stadium. Visit Lake View Estate on weekends to see motorcycle races, or head to Nakuru Athletics Club for track and field events.
Archaeological Sites
The Hyrax Hill site contains tools and artifacts from the Neolithic and Iron Age periods. Visit the on-site museum to see stone tools, pottery, and beads discovered in the area. Walk through the grounds to find visible remains of prehistoric settlements and burial sites, which scientists have dated to about 3,000 years ago.
