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Lake Nakuru Budget Safari Tours
With one of the most picturesque of Kenya’s Rift Valley lakes at its heart, Lake Nakuru National Park is an excellent place for a budget safari. From a practical point of view, Lake Nakuru is a compact park, and is easy to get to, and get around, without the need for high transport costs. But it’s also one of Kenya’s most rewarding parks, with big cats (including tree-climbing lions), black and white rhino, endangered Rothschild’s giraffe, flamingo and so much more in a very small space. To round it all off, the scenery here is magnificent, with a steep escarpment offering views right out of the classic movie ‘Out of Africa’.
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Best Seller
6-Day Maasai Mara-Nakuru-Amboseli Kenya Budget Safari
$780 to $960 pp (USD)
Kenya: Shared tour (max 7 people per vehicle)BudgetTented Camp & Hotel
You Visit: Nairobi (Start), Masai Mara NR, Lake Nakuru NP, Amboseli NP, Nairobi (End)
Bienvenido Kenya Tours and Safaris
4.7/5 – 101 Reviews
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8-Day Amboseli, Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru & Mombasa
$1,320 to $1,694 pp (USD)
Kenya: Shared tour (max 7 people per vehicle)BudgetTented Camp & Resort
You Visit: Nairobi (Start), Masai Mara NR, Lake Nakuru NP, Amboseli NP, Mombasa Beaches, Haller Park (Highlight), Nairobi (End)
Eta Adventure Safaris
4.9/5 – 14 Reviews
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Best Seller
5-Day Masai Mara-Nakuru-Naivasha-Joining Group Budget
$655 to $858 pp (USD)
Kenya: Shared tour (max 7 people per vehicle)BudgetTented Camp & Hotel
You Visit: Nairobi (Start), Masai Mara NR, Lake Nakuru NP, Lake Naivasha (Naivasha), Nairobi (End)
Jocky Tours and Safaris
4.9/5 – 1,793 Reviews
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8-Day Unlimited Mara-Nakuru-Amboseli Budget Safari 2024-
$1,070 to $1,378 pp (USD)
Kenya: Shared tour (max 7 people per vehicle)BudgetTented Camp & Hotel
You Visit: Nairobi (Start), Masai Mara NR, Lake Nakuru NP, Hell’s Gate NP, Amboseli NP, Nairobi (End)
Pavillion Safaris and Tours
5.0/5 – 21 Reviews
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8-Day Mara-Nakuru-Naivasha-Amboseli Wild Budget Safari
$1,150 to $1,480 pp (USD)
Kenya: Shared tour (max 7 people per vehicle)BudgetTented Camp & Hotel
You Visit: Nairobi (Start), Masai Mara NR, Lake Nakuru NP, Hell’s Gate NP, Amboseli NP, Nairobi (End)
Beast Spoor Safaris
5.0/5 – 35 Reviews
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5-Day Budget Kenya Safari - Masai Mara, Nakuru, Naivasha
$759 to $985 pp (USD)
Kenya: Shared tour (max 8 people per vehicle)BudgetTented Camp & Hotel
You Visit: Nairobi (Start), Masai Mara NR, Lake Nakuru NP, Lake Naivasha (Naivasha), Nairobi (End)
ThinkScene Safaris
4.9/5 – 33 Reviews
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4-Day Nakuru & Masai Mara- Budget
$1,084 to $1,551 pp (USD)
Kenya: Private tourBudgetLodge & Tented Camp
You Visit: Nairobi (Start), Lake Nakuru NP, Masai Mara NR, Nairobi (End)
Destination Connect
4.8/5 – 31 Reviews
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8-Day Masai Mara–Lake Nakuru-Lake Naivasha-Amboseli
$1,320 to $1,650 pp (USD)
Kenya: Shared tour (max 8 people per vehicle)BudgetTented Camp & Hotel
You Visit: Nairobi (Start), Masai Mara NR, Lake Nakuru NP, Lake Naivasha (Naivasha), Amboseli NP, Nairobi (End)
Tropical Wild Expeditions
5.0/5 – 18 Reviews
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6-Day Private Game Viewing Safari
$1,650 to $1,870 pp (USD)
Kenya: Private tourBudgetTented Camp & Hotel
You Visit: Nairobi (Start), Amboseli NP, Lake Nakuru NP, Masai Mara NR, Nairobi (End)
Safari Line Defender
4.5/5 – 94 Reviews
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10-Day Thrilling Vacation in Kenya
$4,730 to $5,060 pp (USD)
Kenya: Private tourBudgetLodge & Tented Camp
You Visit: Nairobi (Start), Lake Nakuru NP, Masai Mara NR, Maasai Village (Cultural Village), Lake Naivasha (Naivasha), Amboseli NP, Tsavo West NP, Tsavo East NP, Nairobi (End)
Kubwa Five Safaris
4.9/5 – 148 Reviews
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7-Day Mara-Nakuru-Ambosel Wonderlust Budget Safari
$831 to $931 pp (USD)
Kenya: Shared tour (max 7 people per vehicle)BudgetTented Camp & Hotel
You Visit: Nairobi (Start), Masai Mara NR, Lake Nakuru NP, Hell’s Gate NP, Amboseli NP, Nairobi (End)
Inspired Feet Safaris
5.0/5 – 104 Reviews
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5-Day Masai Mara-Lake Nakuru-Lake Naivasha Budget Safari
$1,557 to $1,892 pp (USD)
Kenya: Private tourBudgetTented Camp & Resort
You Visit: Nairobi (Start), Masai Mara NR, Lake Nakuru NP, Lake Naivasha (Naivasha), Nairobi (End)
Oakland Tours and Safaris
5.0/5 – 89 Reviews
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Top Rated Operator
4-Day Mara & Nakuru Group Sharing
$601 to $760 pp (USD)
Kenya: Shared tour (max 8 people per vehicle)BudgetTented Camp & Hotel
You Visit: Nairobi (Start), Masai Mara NR, Lake Nakuru NP, Nairobi (End)
Axis Africa Expedition & Safaris
4.9/5 – 1,350 Reviews
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4-Day Masai Mara Nakuru Safari
$887 to $1,177 pp (USD)
Kenya: Private tourBudgetTented Camp & Hotel
You Visit: Nairobi (Start), Masai Mara NR, Lake Nakuru NP, Nairobi (End)
Breezy Tours & Travel
4.9/5 – 29 Reviews
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7-Day Explore Lake Nakuru, Mara, Amboseli & Taita Hills
$2,071 to $2,400 pp (USD)
Kenya: Private tourBudgetLodge & Tented Camp
You Visit: Nairobi (Start), Lake Nakuru NP, Masai Mara NR, Amboseli NP, Taita Hills WS, Diani Beach (End)
Family Leisure Africa Safaris
5.0/5 – 12 Reviews
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5-Day Maasai Mara -Lake Nakuru- Hell's Gate 4x4 Safari
$721 to $935 pp (USD)
Kenya: Shared tour (max 8 people per vehicle)BudgetTented Camp & Hotel
You Visit: Nairobi (Start), Masai Mara NR, Lake Nakuru NP, Hell’s Gate NP, Nairobi (End)
Leobeast Tours and Safaris
4.9/5 – 18 Reviews
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4-Day Taste of Kenya Safari - Masai Mara and Lake Nakuru
$715 to $891 pp (USD)
Kenya: Shared tour (max 7 people per vehicle)BudgetTented Camp & Hotel
You Visit: Nairobi (Start), Masai Mara NR, Lake Nakuru NP, Nairobi (End)
Green Places Adventures
4.8/5 – 13 Reviews
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7-Day Masai Mara –Lake Naivasha -Lake Nakuru –Amboseli
$1,078 to $1,265 pp (USD)
Kenya: Shared tour (max 7 people per vehicle)BudgetTented Camp & Hotel
You Visit: Nairobi (Start), Masai Mara NR, Lake Naivasha (Naivasha), Lake Nakuru NP, Amboseli NP, Nairobi Airport (End)
Epic Star Holidays
5.0/5 – 5 Reviews
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5-Day Majestic Kenya Safari
$858 to $1,210 pp (USD)
Kenya: Shared tour (max 8 people per vehicle)BudgetTented Camp & Hotel
You Visit: Nairobi (Start), Masai Mara NR, Lake Nakuru NP, Lake Naivasha (Naivasha), Hell’s Gate NP, Nairobi (End)
Adventure Masai Mara
4.9/5 – 16 Reviews
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6-Day Masai Mara - Lake Nakuru - Amboseli Group Safari
$1,536 to $1,791 pp (USD)
Kenya: Shared tour (max 7 people per vehicle)BudgetLodge & Tented Camp
You Visit: Nairobi (Start), Masai Mara NR, Lake Nakuru NP, Amboseli NP, Nairobi (End)
Leisureway Adventures
4.9/5 – 17 Reviews
5 Questions About Lake Nakuru Budget Safaris
Answered by
Anthony Ham
Anthony is a writer and author of over 150 Lonely Planet guidebooks, including guides to Kenya and East Africa. He has written about Kenya and the wider region for magazines and newspapers around the world. He is also the author of ‘The Last Lions of Africa’.› More about Anthony
5 Questions About Lake Nakuru Budget Safaris
What kind of vehicle can I expect on a budget safari to Lake Nakuru?
“Unless you’re on a self-drive trip, on your Lake Nakuru budget safari you can expect to be driven around in a minibus or a 4WD vehicle. You’ll see the white minibuses in parks all over Kenya, and they’re a good option for parks like Lake Nakuru where you never have to go too far off-road. Specially adapted for safaris, they have a pop-up roof: you stand on the seats and have a great view of the animals and surrounding landscape. Depending on the size of your traveling party, you might also be driven around in a 4WD vehicle. Self-drive budget safaris are not very common in Kenya, certainly when compared to group budget tours, but they are possible. If you are self-driving, you’ll drive a rental 4WD vehicle. Unlike in other countries, you’ll usually be given camping equipment, rather than an adapted 4WD camping vehicle.”
1How do I avoid the crowds in Lake Nakuru NP?
“Lake Nakuru is a small and very popular park, which means that it can be difficult to avoid the crowds. One thing you can do is stay at one of the campsites inside the park boundaries. There aren’t many accommodations inside the park, so most visitors stay in the nearby town of Nakuru. While they’re still queuing to enter the park around dawn, you can already be out exploring, giving you a precious head start for around an hour before things get crowded. Another way to avoid the crowds is to visit outside the busy high season months (which run from July to February). The only downside to doing this is that April and May are the months with the highest average rainfall. June can be an excellent (and slightly quieter) month to visit.”
2Should I camp or stay in cheap lodging on a budget safari in Lake Nakuru NP?
“Apart from one exception, the only option for budget travelers who want to stay inside the park is to camp. For such a small park, Lake Nakuru has a good number of campsites, most of which are close to the lake. The public campsites have basic facilities that include a shower-and-toilet building, as well as cooking facilities and a shared dining area. The special campsites (which should be for your traveling party alone) are bush camping experiences, with no facilities. The only cheap lodging inside the park is the Wildlife Club of Kenya Guesthouse, a tidy cottage near the lake with simple rooms, shared bathrooms, a kitchen and a lounge. If you don’t mind staying outside the park, the adjacent town of Nakuru has a big range of cheap and affordable accommodations. Many of these are good choices, and they’re just a short drive from the park entrance.”
3How much does a Lake Nakuru NP budget trip cost?
“As with all safaris, there are almost as many budget tours and packages as there are operators. As a basic guide, the cheapest budget safaris will start at around US$150 per person per day. It would be less, but you have to factor in the cost of park fees, which for Lake Nakuru National Park are US$60/35 per adult/child per day. You will have to pay these fees, but ask your operator whether they’re included in any prices they quote. Some include them, some don’t and you don’t want any nasty surprises when it comes time to pay. This daily cost estimate should include all accommodations (including campsites and camping equipment), a guide, driver, food, water and two game drives on most days that you’re in the park. On a really cheap camping safari, you may be expected to help out around camp with some of the camp chores (which might include setting up and taking down tents, cooking and washing up). Prices may be a little lower in the low season, although the difference is not great when it comes to the budget end of the market.”
4Is 4 days a good length for a Lake Nakuru NP trip?
“Four days is more than enough time to enjoy your Lake Nakuru budget safari. You are on holiday after all, which means that you don’t want to rush things. With 4 days to enjoy the park, you will be able to really get to know it well. Having this many days also increases your chances of seeing the park’s signature wildlife, whether it’s a leopard, a tree-climbing lion or a rhino down by the lakeshore. This amount of time would also allow you to factor in time to relax, rather than always rushing from one place to the next. At the same time, Lake Nakuru is not a big park. If you only have limited time, a couple of days might be enough to enjoy it, leaving time to add on an excursion to one of the other nearby Rift Valley lakes. These might include Lake Naivasha, Lake Elmenteita or even Lake Baringo. Menengai Crater, Hyrax Hill Prehistoric Site or Hells Gate National Park are other possible excursions.”
5Lake Nakuru Reviews
Ariadne is a renowned African wildlife photographer whose work is featured in many well-known guidebooks and magazines.
Rhinos in the mist
If you expect to see the flocks of flamingos, which are Lake Nakuru’s claim to fame, you’ll likely end up disappointed. Due to rising water levels, the flamingos have moved to other Rift Valley lakes and this might well be a permanent...
Alan is a travel writer and author of over 20 Lonely Planet guidebooks, including the guides to Southern Africa and Zambia & Malawi.
A feel good park with spectacular scenery
Some parks just make you feel good when you are on safari – in Lake Nakuru NP, the animals almost look as if they’re smiling… It’s no wonder the park is so popular, with its dramatic Rift Valley views, rich wildlife population (four...
We did this NP with our own transport and that was great to do. You can stay with all the wildlife as long as you want. Here we also saw several rhinos and hundreds of flamingos. The park is not too big and can easily be visited in 1 day.
Beautiful Park
While the Maasai Mara was a tough act to follow, Lake Nakuru had many high points. White rhinos, Rothschild’s giraffe, flocks of greater and lesser flamingos, scenic landscape, wide variety of birds, an enormous troop of baboons and a...
Lake Nakuru felt like being in Jurassic Park - hugely diverse landscape, and we would've enjoyed our time on Safari even without seeing any animals. The scenery around the salt water lake is breathtaking, the forests around it are...
Many different scenarios and even a family of lions. Some of them attempted to hunt some zebras. We did also see some rhinos. They were a bit far away, but we were well equipped with lenses. I would stay closer or inside the park next...