BEST TIME TO VISIT LAKE NAKURU FOR A CENTRAL KENYA SAFARI

The masses of pink flamingos at Lake Nakuru draws guests from around the world, but the population at the lake varies based on the alkalinity of the lake. Higher levels of precipitation decrease the alkalinity, and there is less algae for the birds. As a result, the largest number of flamingos may migrate to other neighboring soda lakes in Kenya such as Bogoria and Natron for a period of time. Your best bet is to plan your flamingo-watching tour of Lake Nakuru during the dry-hot season in January and February.

There is, though, no warranty that you will see an enormous number of flamingos, as the majority of the birds feed and nest at the lake that offers the highest quantity of algae based on seasonal rain variations. Even with fewer flamingos present outside the nesting and feeding period, Nakuru Park offers many other types of wildlife that will ensure you have an exhilarating wilderness holiday with AfricanMecca.



During the long dry season, there are limited numbers of fresh water sources around which the animals congregate. Another benefit of the dry season is that there are fewer mosquitoes present, so you can enjoy a more comfortable trip to Kenya. Unusually compared to other parts of Kenya, the Nakuru region receives some extra rain during the cool-dry season of July to October. As Europe starts cooling in October, migratory birds begin to arrive and remain in the area until April. The short rains normally start in November and last until December.

The rainfall is generally marginal in comparison to the long rains and has minimal impact on your wildlife-seeking African safari as the moisture evaporates quickly in equatorial Kenya. In January and February, the weather is dry and humidly-hot with sprinkles of rain, and this is also when increased visitors come to the park to escape the cold winters in Europe and the United States.



The long rainy season initiates in late March and lasts through June with April and May being the primary months of the long rains. The precipitation rejuvenates the grasses and pools to create fresh rainwater sources for the animals as they cannot drink from the soda lake of Nakuru due to the high alkaline levels. Fauna is typically more dispersed throughout the park during this time of year, but some of the animals may be giving birth during the rains, so you may see foals and calves that are only days or even hours old as they learn to survive and thrive in their new world.

Lake Nakuru National Park enjoys moderate temperatures throughout the year, but the evenings can be cool. We recommend that you bring extra layers of clothing, such as a jacket, sweater or fleece, to ensure you are able to partake of the early morning and afternoon to evening activities comfortably. Also, if you plan to visit during the rainy seasons, you should bring a poncho.



Guest numbers and lodging rates do vary over the year. Many AfricanMecca guests combine their Lake Nakuru Park trip with the Great Wildebeest Migration starting in August till October at Masai Mara National Reserve, and this along with parents bringing their children during school break means that late summer is the busiest time of year for family safaris. Christmas, New Year's and Easter are also quite busy.

In April and May, Nakuru room rates are reduced as this is considered the low tourist season, although the costs associated with logistics, park fees, meals, activities, guides, hotel taxes and other aspects of your visit are constant throughout the year (read more on where to stay in Nakuru Park).