Lake Nakuru Day Trip Safari from Nairobi: Flamingos & rhinos

Track flamingos, rhinos and pythons across Lake Nakuru in a single morning drive.

A full-day safari from Nairobi takes you into Lake Nakuru National Park for a morning game drive along the shoreline, where over 400 bird species share the water with flamingos, rhinos, giraffes and lions. You stop at Makalia Falls (a 10-meter waterfall where you can step out of the vehicle), the Baboon Cliff viewpoint, and optionally add a boat safari and walking sanctuary at Lake Naivasha. Pickup from Nairobi and a customized safari vehicle with pop-up roof are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Safari and optional boat and walk

• Pick up from Nairobi location
• Drive Nairobi-Nakuru Highway
• Pass by Lake Elementaita
• Arrive Lake Nakuru at 8:30 AM
• Morning game drive in 4X4 Jeep
• Visit Makalia Falls
• Stop at Baboon Cliff viewpoint
• Optional Lake Naivasha boat safari
• Optional Crescent Island nature walk
• Stop at Rift Valley View Point

The experience

The day starts with a drive down the Nairobi-Nakuru Highway, where the Great Rift Valley unfolds in front of you. You'll pass Lake Elementaita in the distance, a hatching ground for flamingos, before arriving at Lake Nakuru National Park at 8:30 AM. From there, you climb into a customized Land Cruiser Jeep with a pop-up roof and head out on the morning game drive along the lake shore, tracking giraffes, water bucks, impalas, lions, leopards and pythons. The lake itself is the draw: thousands of flamingos feed on algae in the shallows, and when they take flight together, they turn the sky pink.

Two stops break up the drive. Makalia Falls, on the southern end of the park, drops 10 meters off a sheer cliff into a plunge pool: one of the few places in the park where you step out of the vehicle to stand at the base and listen to the roar. The Baboon Cliff viewpoint sits higher up, with views down onto the flooded lake shore and a lunch spot (bring cash if you want to eat, the guide can suggest options). Watch your food scraps here. Baboons raid vehicles without hesitation.

If you've told your guide during pickup that you want the optional activities, the day extends to Lake Naivasha for a boat safari in search of hippos and water birds, followed by a two-hour walk around Crescent Island: a sanctuary where giraffes, zebras, hippos and antelope roam without predators (they were brought here to film Out of Africa and never left). The tour ends at a Rift Valley viewpoint for a final panoramic photo before the drive back to Nairobi.

What’s included

• Pickup and drop-off from your Nairobi location.
• customized safari vehicle with pop-up roof for game viewing.
• one bottled water per person.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 05:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (19 to 85 years) · Youth (13 to 18 years) · Child (under 13)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French and German

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 40

Prices and times updated 14 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effort

Operated by Expedition Happy Hour

Is this one for you?At 11 to 12 hours, the tour fills most of a day and leaves room for an early breakfast before pickup or a late dinner after return, but not much else. The optional Lake Naivasha activities add another two hours, so decide during pickup whether you want the boat safari and nature walk or prefer to finish earlier.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French and German.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 18 years); Child (under 13).

What animals will I actually see on the Lake Nakuru game drive?

Lake Nakuru is home to flamingos (the main draw), rhinos, giraffes, water bucks, impalas, lions, leopards and pythons. Over 400 bird species inhabit the park, and you'll see them from the vehicle as you drive along the lake shore and toward Makalia Falls and Baboon Cliff.

Can I get out of the vehicle during the safari?

Yes, at Makalia Falls you step out to view the 10-meter waterfall up close. The Baboon Cliff is also a stop where you can leave the vehicle, though you'll want to keep food secured from the baboons. Most of the game drive happens from inside the Land Cruiser.

What's included in the price, and what costs extra?

Pickup and drop-off in Nairobi, use of the safari vehicle with pop-up roof, and one bottled water per person are included. Lake Nakuru National Park entrance (90 USD for adults, 45 USD for children) is separate. If you add the Lake Naivasha boat safari and Crescent Island walk, that's an additional 40 USD for adults or 20 USD for children. Lunch is not included. Discuss options with your guide.

How long is the full day, and when do I get back to Nairobi?

The tour runs 11 to 12 hours total. You're picked up from your Nairobi location in the morning and return by late afternoon or early evening. If you skip the optional Lake Naivasha activities, you'll finish earlier.

Is the Lake Naivasha boat safari and Crescent Island walk worth adding?

Lake Naivasha is a separate ecosystem from Lake Nakuru: wider open waters, hippos on the shores, and a different set of birds. Crescent Island is a two-hour walking sanctuary where you move among giraffes, zebras and antelope with no predators present. It's a different pace from the vehicle-based game drive, so it depends whether you want to add those hours and the extra cost.