How a Lake Nakuru safari works
A Lake Nakuru safari is a game drive inside the national park. You stay on the park's roads, stay in your vehicle except at marked stops and watch the animals from a distance. The gates are open from 06:00 to 18:00, with an exception for guests who stay overnight in the park. You can enter with a tour from Nairobi or Nakuru or in your own vehicle, and a vehicle fee applies on top of the entry fee.
The park is 156 km northwest of Nairobi, so a safari from the capital is a full day. Check in each tour description whether park entry is included, because the fee is otherwise paid separately.
Our picks: Lake Nakuru safaris
The private full-day drive suits you if you want the park to yourselves and a long day on the road is fine. Add Crescent Island if you also want a walk, or take the four-day route if the Mara is the main goal and Lake Nakuru the finish.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
4-day Mara and Lake Nakuru camping safari
- Shared pop-up roof Land Cruiser
- Three nights, full board
- Maasai Mara and Lake Nakuru
Two nights are in the Mara and one near Lake Nakuru, which you visit on day four. At most eight people share a vehicle, and park fees are extra.
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Private day: Lake Nakuru and Crescent Island
- Lake Nakuru game drive
- Crescent Island walking safari
- Hotel pickup and return
A long day for up to eight people, with an early start from Nairobi. Entry to Lake Nakuru and to Crescent Island is extra.
Check availability →
Private full-day game drive in Lake Nakuru
- Full-day game drive
- English-speaking guide
- Safari vehicle
A private tour by van from Nairobi, with about two hours of driving each way. The park entry is extra.
Check availability →Lake Nakuru safari tours
Game drives, day trips from Nairobi and combinations with Lake Naivasha, with live prices and availability.
What you can see on a Lake Nakuru safari
These animals live in the park. None of them can be promised on a given drive.
Rhinos
Both black and white rhinos live in the park, which became Kenya's first state-managed rhino sanctuary in 1987. A sighting depends on the day.
Animals of Lake Nakuru →Lions and leopards
Lions and leopards live in the park. Neither can be promised on any drive, so treat a sighting as a bonus.
Giraffes, zebras and buffalo
Giraffes, zebras and buffalo live there too. Look for them on open grassland, between acacia trees and on the lake shore meadows.
Birds
About 450 bird species have been recorded, among them pelicans, fish eagle, secretary bird, herons, hamerkop and grebes. The number covers all habitats, so one drive will show only a part of it.
Flamingos
A count in January 2025 found about 500 lesser flamingos at the lake. Flocks move between lakes, so do not plan the day around them.
Flamingos and water levels →Viewpoints
Baboon Cliff, Lion Hill and Out of Africa Hill are viewpoints, and Makalia Falls is a waterfall in the park. Get out of the vehicle only at places where it is allowed.
Makalia Falls and Baboon Cliff →Park rules for your game drive
- Stay on the roads: driving off-road is not allowed.
- Stay in the vehicle: get out only at designated places.
- Speed: 40 km/h at most.
- Distance: keep at least 20 m from wildlife. This is a minimum, not a permission to crowd an animal or block its way.
- Right of way: give animals priority and avoid noise and horns.
- No feeding: never feed the animals.
- No single-use plastic: it is not allowed in the park.
- Gate times: the gates are open from 06:00 to 18:00. Do not plan a private night drive.
Heavy rain and high water have flooded roads near the lake in the past. Ask at the gate which routes are open before you plan a long loop.
What a Lake Nakuru safari costs in the park
Tariff lines for 2026. Your tour operator's price comes on top, unless the tour says it includes them.
| Item | Cost in 2026 |
|---|---|
| Entry, non-resident adult | $90 |
| Entry, non-resident child | $45 |
| Entry, East African citizen adult | KES 1,500 |
| Entry, Kenya resident adult | KES 2,025 |
| Vehicle with fewer than 6 seats, per day | KES 600 |
| Vehicle with 6–12 seats, per day | KES 1,500 |
| Ranger escort (security and guided tour) | KES 2,000 per ranger up to 4 hours, KES 4,000 above that, at least 2 rangers |
For most visitors, the entry fee plus a vehicle fee are the park costs to plan for. The ranger escort is a separate tariff line. It is not the price of a private safari guide or driver. See the entry fee page for children, students and all visitor categories.
Combining Lake Nakuru with other parks
Treat each park as its own leg.
A Lake Nakuru ticket does not include the Masai Mara, and the daily ticket gives one entry to the park it is bought for. If you want both, plan the Mara as a separate stage and read the Masai Mara safari guide and the Mara park fees. For a day with Lake Naivasha and Hell's Gate, see our Lake Naivasha and Lake Nakuru day trips.
Lake Nakuru safari: frequently asked questions
What time do the park gates open?
The gates are open from 06:00 to 18:00. Guests who stay overnight in the park have an exception. That is no general permission for private night drives.
How close can I get to the animals?
Keep at least 20 m away and drive no faster than 40 km/h. The distance is a minimum. Do not crowd an animal, block its path, feed it or make noise.
Can I get out of the vehicle?
Only at designated places, such as the marked viewpoints and picnic sites. Everywhere else, stay inside the vehicle and on the roads.
Can I see rhinos at Lake Nakuru?
Black and white rhinos both live in the park, but no sighting can be promised. Ask your guide or the rangers at the gate where animals were seen recently.
Can I combine Lake Nakuru with the Masai Mara?
Yes, as two separate stages. The Lake Nakuru entry does not include the Mara, and each park needs its own ticket. See the day trips page for Naivasha combinations from Nairobi.