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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 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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6-Day Awesome Kenya Migration Safari from Nairobi
$1,375 pp (USD)
Kenya: Private tourTented Camp & Hotel
You Visit: Nairobi (Start), Amboseli NP, Lake Nakuru NP, Masai Mara NR, Nairobi (End)
Lamara Tourism
4.7/5 – 32 Reviews
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Best Seller
8-Day Kenya Adventure Safari
$1,199 to $1,595 pp (USD)
Kenya: Shared tour (max 7 people per vehicle)Tented Camp & Hotel
You Visit: Nairobi (Start), Masai Mara NR, Lake Naivasha (Naivasha), Lake Nakuru NP, Amboseli NP, Nairobi (End)
Super Eagles Travel and Tours
4.8/5 – 158 Reviews
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6-Day Let's Go Masai Mara Nakuru and Amboseli in a Group
$880 to $1,100 pp (USD)
Kenya: Shared tour (max 8 people per vehicle)Lodge & Tented Camp
You Visit: Nairobi (Start), Masai Mara NR, Lake Nakuru NP, Amboseli NP, Nairobi (End)
Jungleroam Safaris
5.0/5 – 12 Reviews
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4-Day Budget Tour Masai Mara & Lake Nakuru Join Safari
$539 to $770 pp (USD)
Kenya: Shared tour (max 7 people per vehicle)Tented Camp & Hotel
You Visit: Nairobi (Start), Masai Mara NR, Lake Nakuru NP, Nairobi (End)
Okoa Africa Tours
4.2/5 – 83 Reviews
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6-Day Wild Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru, Amboseli Safari
$1,557 to $1,909 pp (USD)
Kenya: Private tourLodge & Hotel
You Visit: Nairobi (Start), Masai Mara NR, Lake Nakuru NP, Amboseli NP, Nairobi (End)
Tai Adventures
4.9/5 – 10 Reviews
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Top Rated Operator
5-Day Masai Mara-Nakuru-Naivasha-Joining Group Budget
$638 to $858 pp (USD)
Kenya: Shared tour (max 7 people per vehicle)Tented Camp & Hotel
You Visit: Nairobi (Start), Masai Mara NR, Lake Nakuru NP, Lake Naivasha (Naivasha), Nairobi (End)
Jocky Tours and Safaris
4.9/5 – 1302 Reviews
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5-Day 4x4 Mara-Nakur Naivasha Karibu Kenya Budget Safari
$690 to $905 pp (USD)
Kenya: Shared tour (max 7 people per vehicle)Tented Camp & Hotel
You Visit: Nairobi (Start), Masai Mara NR, Lake Nakuru NP, Hell’s Gate NP, Nairobi (End)
Inspired Feet Safaris
5.0/5 – 50 Reviews
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9-Day Kenya Scenic and Wildlife Budget Safari Adventure
$2,640 to $3,520 pp (USD)
Kenya: Private tourHotel & Tented Bush Camp
You Visit: Nairobi (Start), Samburu NR, Meru NP, Lake Naivasha (Naivasha), Lake Nakuru NP, Masai Mara NR, Nairobi (End)
Nature Insight safaris
5.0/5 – 8 Reviews
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7-Day Kenya Magnificent Budget Tour
$2,310 to $2,530 pp (USD)
Kenya: Private tourTented Camp & Hotel
You Visit: Nairobi (Start), Amboseli NP, Lake Nakuru NP, Great Rift Valley, Masai Mara NR, Giraffe Centre (Nairobi), Nairobi (End)
Kubwa Five Safaris
5.0/5 – 122 Reviews
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Best Seller
6-Day Budget Safari in a Minivan
$1,205 to $1,859 pp (USD)
Kenya: Private tourLodge & Tented Camp
You Visit: Nairobi (Start), Amboseli NP, Lake Naivasha (Naivasha), Lake Nakuru NP, Masai Mara NR, Nairobi (End)
Kameraz of Afrika
4.8/5 – 98 Reviews
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5-Day Into Masai Mara & Kenya's Lakes - Budget
$1,364 pp (USD)
Kenya: Private tourLodge & Tented Camp
You Visit: Nairobi (Start), Lake Nakuru NP, Masai Mara NR, Lake Naivasha (Naivasha), Nairobi (End)
Ways Of Africa Travel
5.0/5 – 64 Reviews
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6-Day Amboseli, Lake Nakuru & Masai Mara NR Budget Tour
$1,353 to $1,659 pp (USD)
Kenya: Private tourTented Camp & Hotel
You Visit: Nairobi (Start), Masai Mara NR, Lake Nakuru NP, Amboseli NP, Nairobi (End)
Kevic Tours and Travel
5.0/5 – 41 Reviews
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5-Day Amazing Roadtrip 4x4 Shared Safari
$726 to $968 pp (USD)
Kenya: Shared tour (max 7 people per vehicle)Tented Camp & Hotel
You Visit: Nairobi (Start), Masai Mara NR, Lake Nakuru NP, Hell’s Gate NP, Nairobi (End)
Moran Discoveries & Tours
5.0/5 – 40 Reviews
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5-Day Mara/Nakuru/Naivasha
$688 pp (USD)
Kenya: Shared tour (max 7 people per vehicle)Tented Camp & Hotel
You Visit: Nairobi (Start), Masai Mara NR, Lake Nakuru NP, Lake Naivasha (Naivasha), Nairobi (End)
Pride of Africa Adventures
4.5/5 – 68 Reviews
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4-Day Masai Mara Budget Tour
$528 to $748 pp (USD)
Kenya: Shared tour (max 7 people per vehicle)Tented Camp & Hotel
You Visit: Nairobi (Start), Masai Mara NR, Lake Nakuru NP, Nairobi (End)
Kibera Holiday Safaris
5.0/5 – 66 Reviews
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4-Day Masai Mara and Lake Nakuru Shared Camping Safari
$781 to $1,133 pp (USD)
Kenya: Shared tour (max 8 people per vehicle)Tented Camp & Hotel
You Visit: Nairobi (Start), Masai Mara NR, Lake Nakuru NP, Nairobi (End)
Kenya Tulia Safari Holiday Arcade
5.0/5 – 48 Reviews
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6-Day Masai Mara - Nakuru – Amboseli Safari
$1,067 to $1,287 pp (USD)
Kenya: Shared tour (max 8 people per vehicle)Tented Camp & Hotel
You Visit: Nairobi (Start), Masai Mara NR, Lake Nakuru NP, Amboseli NP, Nairobi (End)
Tropical Wild Expeditions
5.0/5 – 5 Reviews
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4-Day Best of Masai Mara Lake Nakuru Kenya Budget Safari
$506 pp (USD)
Kenya: Shared tour (max 7 people per vehicle)Tented Camp & Hotel
You Visit: Nairobi (Start), Masai Mara NR, Lake Nakuru NP, Nairobi (End)
Let's Venture Africa Safaris
5.0/5 – 25 Reviews
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6-Day Amboseli, Lake Nakuru & Masai Mara Game Drive Tour
$1,799 to $2,090 pp (USD)
Kenya: Private tourTented Camp & Hotel
You Visit: Nairobi (Start), Amboseli NP, Lake Nakuru NP, Masai Mara NR, Nairobi (End)
Gametrackers K
5.0/5 – 62 Reviews
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4-Day Lake Nakuru to Masai Mara Adventure Safari
$964 to $1,360 pp (USD)
Kenya: Private tourTented Camp & Hotel
You Visit: Nairobi (Start), Lake Nakuru NP, Masai Mara NR, Nairobi (End)
Leo Africa Safaris
5.0/5 – 20 Reviews
5 Questions About Lake Nakuru Budget Safaris
Answered by
Anthony Ham
Anthony is a writer and author of nearly 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 accommodation choices inside the park, so most visitors stay in the nearby town of Nakuru. While they’re still queueing 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 March). 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 if you 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 accommodation. 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 accommodation (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...
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...
Great place to sight exotic birds and all types of herbivores and warthogs. Fortunate to see a Rhino with a month-old calf very close by. There are lions too. The Lake itself is a great view from every part of the park
Being able to "feed" an eagle. Guide whistled and tossed a fish in the lake which the eagle swooped down and grabbed. We have a movie of it. To walk among Zebras and a mother and baby giraffe up close was special. We went there to see...
You can watch Rhinos easily, but there are very few flamingos that made this lake famous.
It takes 3 hours drive from Nairobi with paved road.
If you want to do another place in this country other than Masai Mara, this is the best.