Family Days Out in Nakuru

As of 31 October 2026, check US State Department, UK FCDO and CDC advice before booking. Kenya is at Level 3 in the US system and an Ebola outbreak is being reported in Nairobi; Nakuru is outside the listed do-not-travel areas. Read the UK FCDO Kenya page and the CDC Kenya notice with your family’s health in mind.

A family day in Nakuru centres on the park, with shorter stops for the museum, castle lawns and a boat. Nothing here needs special fitness, though the days start early.

Child prices at a glance

  • Lake Nakuru National Park: children from 5 to under 18 pay USD 45 as non-residents, KSh 1,050 as Kenya residents and KSh 750 as East African citizens, for 24 hours. Under 5s are free.
  • Hyrax Hill: KSh 250 for non-African visitors, KSh 200 for residents and other Africans, KSh 50 for Kenyan and East African citizens.
  • Hell’s Gate: USD 25 for non-resident children.
  • Vehicle fee at the park: KSh 600 a day for a car under six seats, KSh 1,500 for a minibus of 6 to 12 seats.

Game drive tips for kids

Younger children cope best with a morning drive, when the air is cool and the animals are out. Lake Nakuru is at about 1,850 m, so pack jumpers and hats. Look for rhinos, giraffes, buffalo and baboons, and pelicans on the water. The park has no elephants. Flamingos are not guaranteed, so describe them as a possibility only.

The rule for every family is the same: stay inside the vehicle. The park has no walking or cycling products for visitors. Stops are allowed only at the designated picnic and viewpoint sites, and only if rangers or your guide say so. Never let a child feed a baboon.

Hyrax Hill

Children can look at the museum’s three galleries and then walk up the short hill. Tortoises and guinea fowl share the grounds. It is a gentle visit of an hour or two, and it is open from about 08:30 to 17:30.

Lord Egerton Castle

Pack a picnic and use the castle lawns, near Njoro. The building has about 52 rooms. Ask about fees before you drive out.

Naivasha and Hell’s Gate

Naivasha is a 1 to 1.5 hour drive away. A boat ride on the lake and a guided Crescent Island walk, among giraffe, zebra and antelope with no predators, suit most ages. Hell’s Gate is better for older children who can cycle well, and bike use costs USD 10 or KSh 300 per day on top of the entry fee.

Booking and payment

Compare family-friendly tours on GetYourGuide . Pay park fees online in advance at KWSPay , and see the KWS fee schedule for the age bands.

Read more: Lake day trips and group outings in Nakuru .