Sightseeing at Lake Nakuru and Menengai
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. See the US travel advisory and the UK FCDO Kenya page .
Nakuru’s sights are mostly high points with a view. The park’s four stops are reached by vehicle, and the crater and the hill sit outside it.
Park viewpoints
| Stop | What it is | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Baboon Cliff | Highest viewpoint in the park | Picnic site; keep food sealed |
| Out of Africa Lookout | Cliff viewpoint over the lake | A cliff edge, so keep children close |
| Lion Hill | Viewpoint area in the east | East side of the park |
| Makalia Falls | Waterfall, best after rain | Picnic site; no swimming |
Stepping out of the vehicle is allowed at these designated sites and only when rangers or your guide say so. Elsewhere the park is for vehicles only, with no boat rides on the lake and no walking or cycling products. Lake Nakuru has more than 400 bird species, and pelicans and fish eagles are reliable. Flamingos are not, since numbers move between the Rift Valley lakes and can be low.
Menengai Crater
On the rim, the viewpoint takes in Nakuru town and the caldera floor, with steam rising from geothermal plants. The path down is steep ash and slippery. Flash floods follow rain, and there are reports of falls and of crime on isolated paths. Visit the rim viewpoint, or go further only with a local guide.
Hyrax Hill
The hill lies about 4 km from the centre and is about 50 m high, covering 59 ha. A short walk up leads past excavations to a stone-walled hill fort. The museum is in a farmhouse from around 1900 to 1910. Adults from outside Africa pay KSh 500, residents and other Africans KSh 400, and Kenyan and East African citizens KSh 100. Hours are about 08:30 to 17:30.
Gates, hours and fees
The old main gate was submerged by rising water and KWS built replacement gates, so which gate is open depends on the lake level. Confirm it with KWS or your lodge. Nderit Gate has been open from 06:00 to 18:00 for prepaid tickets. Entry is USD 90 for a non-resident adult per 24 hours under the October 2025 KWS fee schedule , a rate challenged in the High Court, so confirm it on KWSPay .
Book a guided sightseeing drive through GetYourGuide .
Read more: Activities in Nakuru and Outdoor activities in Nakuru .