The best time to visit Lake Nakuru and the Rift Valley lakes

Lake Nakuru and the rest of Nakuru County can be visited all year. Close to the equator and high in the Rift Valley, the area is warm by day and cool at night in every month, and the seasons are defined by the rains rather than by temperature.

The short answer

For game drives, hiking and cycling, the best times are the dry seasons, from late June to October and from January to February. For green landscapes, lower prices and fewer visitors, the rainy months can be lovely too.

Season by season

January and February: hot and dry

Sunny, warm days and dry tracks. Animals gather near water, and it is a great time for photography, hiking Longonot and cycling Hell’s Gate.

March to May: the long rains

Heavy afternoon storms, green grass and fewer tourists. Some park tracks become muddy or flooded, and the Hell’s Gate gorge may close after rain. Lodges often offer lower rates.

June to October: dry and cool

The main safari season, with cool mornings, dry roads and good game viewing. July and August are the busiest months, as many safaris combine Lake Nakuru with the wildebeest migration in the Masai Mara.

November and December: the short rains

Usually short showers rather than long downpours. The land turns green again, and migrant birds arrive from Europe. Book ahead for Christmas.

Flamingos and rising water

Lake Nakuru was once famous for its pink shoreline of flamingos. Since about 2010 the lake has risen dramatically, flooding the shore and diluting the salty water that feeds the algae flamingos eat. Their numbers now change from year to year, and many birds move between the Rift Valley lakes. Pelicans are almost always present. Read where to see flamingos in Nakuru County.

Tips

• Whatever the month, enter the park early, when animals are most active.
• Pack a warm layer for early mornings and evenings all year.
• See our travel guide and one-day plan for the park.