Lake Nakuru National Park is located in Central Kenya approximately 155km north-west of Nairobi and connected by a sealed road. It can therefore be visited on a day trip from Nairobi, although in the raining season more time would be needed. A safari to Lake Nakuru is popularly combined with either the Masai Mara National Reserve or Lake Baringo and Samburu National Reserve which lies to the east.
The park entrance lies 6km from Nakuru town and the main attraction is Lake Nakuru, a shallow alkaline soda lake set beneath the high cliffs of the eastern Rift Valley.
Lake Nakuru is a known ornithological paradise offering the spectacular view of up to 2 million flamingos at one time (during the season), which are attracted by the lake's algae. Sadly the numbers of flamingos have reduced over recent years, which may be due to environmental damage caused by close human habitation. There are also hundreds of other bird species including many birds of prey.
An area of 190sq km around the lake is fenced in as a national park and has been made a sanctuary for Rothschild giraffes and black and white rhinos. Some of the 56 different species of mammals that can be viewed in Nakuru National Park include an abundance of Waterbuck. Predators are lion, cheetah and leopard.
Over the past few years Lake Nakuru has been getting bigger, increased in size by approx 300 meters. The original entrance gate had to be moved as it is now under water. There is less salt in the water, which may impact in the amount of flamingoes visiting in years to come. The reason for the increase is unknown but it is possibly due to the rift valley fault line.
The best time to visit Lake Nakuru is between March and December.