Lake Nakuru

Lake Nakuru sits in the Great Rift Valley, a shallow alkaline lake ringed by yellow-barked acacia forest and steep escarpment. It is a small park, it can be driven in a morning, but it holds an unusual density of wildlife.

The lake was once famous for its flamingos, and although numbers fluctuate with water levels and algae, the shoreline still regularly holds thousands of birds alongside pelicans and cormorants. The surrounding acacia woodland is home to Rothschild's giraffe, a species found in very few places.

Most importantly, Lake Nakuru National Park is one of Kenya's rhino strongholds. Both black and white rhino are present and are seen with reassuring regularity, making the park a valuable inclusion in any itinerary where rhino is a priority. The park is also fully fenced, which has made it a refuge for large numbers of the animals.

We usually include Nakuru as a single night between the Maasai Mara and Laikipia or Samburu, breaking a long drive and adding rhino and flamingos to the journey at very little cost.