Lake Naivasha and Nakuru

Located approximately a 3 hour drive to the north of Nairobi (and a couple of hours on from there), Lakes Nakuru and Naivasha are often used in a Kenyan driving itinerary as a stopping point on the way to the Abadares or down to the Masai Mara.

Lake Naivasha is a freshwater lake and, as such, is home to larger mammals such as hippo and even rhino and is also one of Kenya’s best birding spots. 

Lake Nakuru, as a “salt” lake, is arguably the more famousof the two for its vast, seasonal flamingo populations that are to be seen to be believed.

Do see our best camps & lodges in Lake Naivasha and Nakuru picks for 2026/27 on this page.

Where Lake Naivasha can be visited year round, Lake Nakuru is dependant on the best conditions and timings for the blue/green algal blooms that provide food for the vast flamingo populations.

In the main these blooms are at their peak in the two dry periods, between June and October and again from January to March.

Do see our interactive best time to visit Lake Naivasha and Nakuru guide on this page as well as on our parent guide to Kenya page for more in-depth information on when to go.

Or call us on +44 1525 840 149. That’s what we’re here for.

As much as AI has changed the way we all approach our lives, there is still no substitute for picking up the phone and having a chat through the options with one of us on +44 1525 840 149

This allows us to completely tailor the property choices, costs and itinerary length to your needs…but we also understand that this is not always possible with the busy lives we all lead.

With this in mind, we have also put together a safari finder tool that should help you to narrow down the initial stages at which point we can jump in to “round off the edges” as it were.

Alternatively please feel free to >send us an email with your timings, group size and rough likes and dislikes and we can get the ball rolling.

As much as AI has changed the way we all approach our lives, there is still no substitute for picking up the phone and having a chat through the options with one of us on +44 1525 840 149

This allows us to completely tailor the property choices, costs and itinerary length to your needs…but we also understand that this is not always possible with the busy lives we all lead.

With this in mind, we have also put together a safari finder tool that should help you to narrow down the initial stages at which point we can jump in to “round off the edges” as it were.

Alternatively please feel free to >send us an email with your timings, group size and rough likes and dislikes and we can get the ball rolling.