Nakuru, Elementaita and Naivasha in 3 Days
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 and the lakes on this route are outside the listed do-not-travel areas. See the UK FCDO Kenya page and the US travel advisory .
Three days is enough to see the Nakuru park, a prehistoric site, a private conservancy and two lakes, without long drives. The plan below runs from Nairobi and back, but you can reverse it.
| Day | Morning | Afternoon | Sleep |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Drive from Nairobi, about 150 to 160 km on the A104 | Game drive in Lake Nakuru National Park | In the park or in town |
| 2 | Hyrax Hill, or a dawn park drive | Lake Elementaita and Soysambu, or Lord Egerton Castle | Nakuru or Naivasha |
| 3 | Crescent Island by boat, with a guided walk | Hell’s Gate, then onward | Nairobi |
Getting there
Travel by day on the A104 with a licensed shuttle or driver. Passenger rail does not run to Nakuru, because the SGR carries passengers from Nairobi only as far as Suswa.
Where to sleep
Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge and Lake Nakuru Lodge are in the park and show 2026 rates on booking listings. A park stay gives you the dawn and dusk drives. Sarova Lion Hill Game Lodge appears in listings too. Confirm any lodge rate and availability before you plan around it. Compare stays on Booking.com .
Day 2 detail
Hyrax Hill opens about 08:30 and closes about 17:30. Lord Egerton Castle is near Njoro, about 15 km off the Nakuru to Eldoret road. At Lake Elementaita, Soysambu is a private conservancy, and the Kenya Wildlife Service runs a separate sanctuary charging USD 50 per non-resident adult.
Day 3 detail
Crescent Island entry is about USD 33 and the boat costs extra. Hell’s Gate costs USD 50 per non-resident adult and USD 10 more for a bike.
Add-ons
Lake Bogoria is an overnight add-on by itself, as it is 2 to 3 hours each way from Nakuru. Its hot springs and geysers are very hot, so keep clear. The Maasai Mara is a separate long road journey, and most people treat it as its own trip.
Fees and entry
Park fees are for one entry within 24 hours. The October 2025 KWS fee schedule is the reference, a High Court challenge to the new fees makes a check worthwhile, and online payment on KWSPay is the norm. Foreign visitors generally need an eTA from etakenya.go.ke , and processing takes about three working days.
Read more: Day trips by lake and a romantic weekend .