Stand on the edge of the Menengai Crater rim and the ground below you is forested, folded into a caldera that still releases small fumaroles and steam vents. Turn the other way and the grid of Nakuru spreads out along the Nairobi–Nakuru Highway, with Kenyatta Avenue running through the middle of it. This is a city where a dormant volcano, a prehistoric site and a soda lake sit within easy reach of the shops.
Nakuru suits travellers who want wildlife and geology in the same day, and who are happy to build a trip around a lake rather than a beach. It also suits anyone breaking the journey between Nairobi and the western highlands, since the Eldoret–Nairobi highway and the Rift Valley Railways line both pass through the city.
This guide covers the sights and experiences the sources describe, with practical notes on how to fit them together.
Top things to do in Nakuru
1. Lake Nakuru National Park
Two kilometres south of the town, Lake Nakuru is one of the Rift Valley soda lakes and forms the centre of the national park. The park is internationally known for its dense flamingo population, and it is an important feeding site for great white pelicans that nest at nearby Lake Elmenteita. It is also a rhinoceros sanctuary and home to Rothschild's giraffes.
Give this the best part of a day rather than slotting it in between other stops. Because the park sits so close to the city, you can pair it with an evening back in town without losing much time to travel.
2. Menengai Crater
Menengai Crater is a dormant volcano, and small fumaroles and steam vents can regularly be observed within the forested caldera from above. A view from the edge of the crater is the reason to come. The summit is accessible by walking or driving.
Come for the view over the caldera, and look for the steam rather than expecting a dramatic eruption landscape. The wood-covered crater ground is a nature reserve, so treat the rim as the start of a walk rather than a quick photo stop.
3. Hyrax Hill Prehistoric Site and Museum
Hyrax Hill is a major site of Neolithic and Iron Age findings in Kenya, discovered by the Leakeys in 1926. The adjoining museum features finds from various nearby excavations.
This is the place to go if you want the deep history of the area rather than its colonial-era story. Combine it with a look at the city itself, since the site sits a short distance from the Central Business District.
4. Menengai Forest
Menengai Forest covers the ground of the crater area and is listed among the things to do in Nakuru in its own right. It is a walking and driving destination rather than a single viewpoint.
Pair it with the crater rim, since the two belong to the same excursion. Temperatures fall significantly at night and between June and August, so carry a layer if you go early or late in the day.
5. Nyayo Gardens
Nyayo Gardens are located along Kenyatta Avenue in Nakuru. They give you a central, easy stop in the middle of the city rather than an excursion out of it.
Use them as a break between other stops in the CBD, or as a starting point before you head out along Kenyatta Avenue.
6. Nakuru Athletics Club
You can visit a game of rugby at Nakuru Athletics Club on a Saturday at 2PM and 4PM. It is a straightforward way to spend an afternoon with local sport rather than a tourist attraction.
Plan your Saturday around the two kick-off times, and keep the rest of the day's sightseeing flexible so you are back in town for the afternoon.
7. Afraha Stadium
Afraha Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium mainly used for football matches, and it is the home stadium of Nakuru AllStars and Ulinzi Stars of the Kenyan Premier League. It opened in 1948 and is two kilometres from Lake Nakuru National Park.
If you are already heading to the lake, this is an easy addition on the same side of town. Check what is being played before you build a day around it.
8. The public market
A large public market lies to the west of the town on the main thoroughfare to the capital, Nairobi. It serves the retail and agricultural trade that the city is known for.
Go earlier in the day if you want it at its busiest. It sits on the road toward Nairobi, so it works well as a stop as you arrive or leave rather than a separate trip.
9. The Rift Valley Sports Club
The Rift Valley Sports Club lies in the centre of the city and was started in 1907 by European settlers who had settled in Nakuru in the early 1900s. It is a piece of the city's colonial-era history that still stands in the middle of the modern town.
Combine it with a walk along Kenyatta Avenue and Nyayo Gardens, since all three are central and can be covered on foot in the same outing.
10. Nakuru War Memorial Hospital
The Nakuru War Memorial Hospital was opened shortly after World War I by Norman Jewell to commemorate troops. It is a working hospital rather than a museum, so visit with that in mind.
Look at it as part of a wider look at the city's older buildings rather than as a standalone stop, and be mindful that it is in active use.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start at Lake Nakuru National Park, two kilometres south of town. Go early, since this is the day's main excursion and the park is the reason most visitors come.
Afternoon: Leave the park and head for Menengai Crater, where you can look down into the forested caldera and watch for fumaroles and steam vents. If you have time left, walk part of Menengai Forest on the same outing.
Evening: Return to the centre and finish at Nyayo Gardens along Kenyatta Avenue, then walk past the Rift Valley Sports Club nearby. If it is a Saturday, the rugby at Nakuru Athletics Club runs at 2PM and 4PM, so swap it in for the crater and take the lake earlier.
Frequently asked questions
What is Nakuru best known for?
Lake Nakuru National Park, two kilometres south of the town, is internationally known for its dense flamingo population. The park is also a rhinoceros sanctuary and home to Rothschild's giraffes.
How do I get to Nakuru?
The city lies along the Nairobi–Nakuru Highway, and the Eldoret–Nairobi highway passes through it, linking Uasin Gishu County with Nairobi. The Rift Valley Railways narrow gauge track also runs through the city, with a railway station on the edge of the CBD.
When is the best time to visit the crater?
Menengai Crater is a dormant volcano with fumaroles and steam vents that can regularly be observed within the forested caldera from above. Temperatures in Nakuru fall significantly at night and between June and August, so plan around the cooler hours accordingly.
Is there anything to do in the city centre itself?
Yes. Nyayo Gardens are located along Kenyatta Avenue, and the Rift Valley Sports Club lies in the centre of the city. The large public market sits to the west of the town on the main thoroughfare to Nairobi.
Decide which day suits the lake and the crater, check the Saturday rugby times, and you have enough to start planning a trip to Nakuru.