Fun Things to Do in Nakuru

Nakuru County is the thirty-second of Kenya's forty-seven counties. In the northwest of Nairobi. The county has a population of 2.162 million (2019). Nakuru is the latest town to be promoted to a city.

Nakuru city is the county's headquarters and is ranked fourth among urban centers in Kenya after Nairobi, Mombasa, and Kisumu. According to a recent UN-Habitat study, it is also one of the fastest-growing cities in East and Central Africa. Naivasha, Molo, Gilgil, Njoro, Maai Mahiu, Subukia, Dundori, Salgaa, Mau Narok, Bahati, Rongai, and Olenguruone are some of the other major towns in Nakuru.

How to Get There

Nakuru is accessible by road. From Nairobi, you will drive through the road that connects Mombasa to Nairobi and runs through Nyanza, connecting Kenya to East and Central Africa. The distance from Nairobi to Nakuru is about 158km, and it will take you almost 2 hours and 47 minutes to arrive in the magnificent city of Nakuru.

Where to stay

As you arrive in Nakuru, you will be spoilt for choice as you look for a place to stay. From a 2-star hotel, which charges about $65 per night, to 3-star hotels that go for $36 each, and eventually to 4-star hotels that range from $65 to 119 per night. Additionally, you can choose to stay within the town or on the outskirts of the city in one of the various contemporary hotels. Fortunately, most of these hotels outside the city have beautiful sceneries and wild animals to offer additional enjoyment for your stay with them. An example of a hotel within Nakuru town is Mericca. Sarova Woodlands, Waterbuck, Chester, Ole Ken, among others. Guesthouses that are outside the city and offer both accommodation and tourism beauty are Lake Nakuru lodge, Lake Elementaita serene camp, and Sarova lion hill game lodge.

What to Carry:

Generally, carry convenient clothes for a good experience, such as holiday pants and a t-shirt with a warm jumper.

The best times to visit Nakuru

Nakuru has a Mediterranean climate. Therefore, it's suitable to visit throughout the year. However, when you visit during the long rains of April and May, the roads might become untraversable. Moreover, July and August are cold with less rain, while the rest of the months are moderately warm, and you will enjoy the outdoor activities Nakuru County has to offer.

Beautiful Places to Visit While in Nakuru

Nakuru has so many magnificent tourism attraction sites. The advantage of being in the Rift Valley resulting in sites that are unique in the world, such as Menengai crater, hells gate, and home to some of the endangered species in the world. Therefore, making Nakuru one of the best tourism destinations in the world. As an individual, couple, or with your children, you are guaranteed to have a memorable holiday in Nakuru. This article features some of the beautiful places to visit and have fun:

For individuals, places to visit.

As you tour around Nakuru town, you will stop at the historic Nakuru railway station, currently being renovated and will soon be carrying passengers again. As you watch the business hours around the central business center, the Rift Valley sports club is amongst the oldest facilities in the town. You can also enjoy some shopping at the city's Westside mall. Additionally, as you tour around the industrial areas and restaurants, it will give you a feeling of why Nakuru is the most developed city in Eastern Africa.

Fun Things to Do as a Couple

Lord Egerton's Castle

Lord Egerton's Castle is situated off the Nakuru-Kisumu Highway, 14km from Nakuru town. The castle is built on over 740 acres of land. The founder of this construction was Lord Maurice Egerton. The construction started in 1938 and was completed 14 years later. Lord Egerton was building the castle for his fiancée, who belonged to some royal family in Europe. She mocked the house, saying it looked like a chicken coup. She left Lord Egerton, who eventually lived the rest of his life in loneliness until his demise in 1958.

Lord Egerton Castle remains a favorite spot for lovers, weddings, engagement proposals, and lovers' picnics regularly. The gate charge for the castle is 150 per adult, and the cost from Nakuru town is KES 500. Hotels near the castle are Grand Winston, Ziwa Bush Lodge, and Tumaini Cottages and Conference center.

Sunbird Lodge

The lodge is located at the flamingo-filled Lake Elementaita, along Kenya's Great Rift Valley between Gilgil and Nakuru. You will find the cottage about 127 kilometers from Nairobi and just a few minutes off the fantastic Nairobi-Nakuru highway. You will reach the facility via a private road on the shores of Lake Elementaita, bordering and overlooking Soysambu conservancy. Additionally, the lodge is a four-star eco-friendly luxury boutique lodge. Since it is located on private land, therefore, you will not be charged a park or conservation fee in addition to the very competitive rates.

The beautiful facilities include 14 luxurious en-suite cottages that give you plenty of space and privacy. As you enjoy the spectacular surroundings from each cottage's large veranda, as you relax and unwind,

Mbweha Camp

The camp is located in the spectacular Great Rift Valley, on the private 6400-acre Congreve Conservancy bordering the southern border of Lake Nakuru National Park. It overlooks the beautiful views of the Eburru and Mau ranges. Congreve Conservancy is part of the greater Soysambu conservancy area. Mbweha Camp is only a few hours from Nairobi. You will enjoy Mbweha's ten private rustic lava-stone cottages, with traditional thatched roofs surrounded by acacia trees and other indigenous vegetation. You will love the camp's large, comfortable beds. Since it is situated outside a National Park, it allows you many activities, including walking, mountain biking, and night game drives. Visitors can also enjoy day trips into Nakuru National Park as they enjoy a gourmet bush lunch. The camp charges about KES 40 201.

As a family with children,

Crater Menengai

Menengai crater is situated about 8 km from Nakuru town. It is believed to be the second-largest caldera globally at 90 km2 and almost 2500 m above sea level. It will give you an impressive attraction, providing an amazing view of both Lake Nakuru and Lake Bogoria. It is believed that Menengai is an ancient ground for the battle between different clans of the Maasai community.

The Menengai Crater is surrounded by beautiful forests and is protected by the Kenya Forest Service. Additionally, you can see animals such as slender mongooses, black-faced velvet monkeys, tree hyrax, and mountain reedbuck. It is also home to the Verreaux eagle, the Abyssinian ground hornbill, and the African Marsh Harrier, along with other forest species of bird.

Attractions to enjoy as you visit Menengai Crater:

·         Nature trails and hikes

·         Caves

·         Picnic sites

·         The Menengai caldera

·         Mountain biking

·         Birding

You can also buy some beautiful souvenirs from the curio shops. In addition, you can enjoy spectacular campsites with your family. The gate charge is KES 300.

Lake Nakuru National Park

Lake Nakuru National Park is found on the floor of the Great Rift Valley in Kenya. It is 4 km from Nakuru town. It is enclosed by wooded and bushy grassland. You can access the park from the main Nairobi Nakuru road at Lanet Gate. However, people accessing the park from Masai Mara or Elementaita can use the Nderit Gate. The Naishi airstrip facilitates the park for tourism and KWS activities. The park has well-serviced roads that make the park accessible. Known for flamingos, Lake Nakuru National Park offers you Africa's most diverse bird populations—as well as rhinos, hippos, leopards, lions, and more. Even if your schedule doesn't allow for an overnight safari, experience this on a private day trip, direct from your hotel: Add a Lake Naivasha boat trip for extra fun. Other attractions to see in the park include:

·         Terrestrial birds, of which there are approximately 450 species.

·         It is home to 56 different mammal species, including white rhinos and waterbucks.

·         Lion Hill, Baboon Cliff, and Out of Africa are three viewpoints.

·         Hills: Enasoit, Honeymoon, Lion Hill Ridge

·         Waterfalls: Makalia.

·         Participate in the rhino cycle event every September.

The charges for the park are as follows:

Special campsite fees (Kshs)

Non-residents 50 dollars, 25 dollars

Public camping

Citizen 250 and 200

Residents ranging from 600 to 300

 Soysambu Conservancy

The conservancy borders Lake Elementeita. It is 20 km from Nakuru town. It is home to different species of flora and fauna.

Soysambu Conservancy is mostly savannah and acacia woodland. The animals to look out for are zebra, buffalo, Rothschild's giraffe, lions, leopards, and Colobus guereza monkeys. The Estate is home to around 150 Rothschild's Giraffe, thus accounting for more than 10% of the world's endangered species. Additionally, some of the animals you will see during the day are the Waterbuck, Thompson's Gazelle, Grant's gazelle, and Impala. Eland, the world's largest antelope, is also seen walking through the tall grass. The Dik-Dik will watch you approaching and then hide into the undergrowth. However, duikers are rare to notice as they always hide deep in the undergrowth. When planning to visit the conservancy, you must book first; the charges are:

Residents

Adults -1200

Students and Children -600

Non-residents (USD)

47 adults

Students and children -24

Night Game Drives

Soysambu Conservancy is among the few wildlife conservancies that offer the truly unique experience of night game drives.

Aardvark, aardwolf, Bushbaby, Bushpig, Caracal, Genet cat, striped hyena, Bat-eared Fox, Honeybadger, Porcupine, White-tailed mongoose, spring hare, Zorilla, and Owls are all possible sightings. You are required to make a prior booking with an experienced guide and adhere to the visitor's guidelines.

Night Game Drive Regulations:

You must have a guide from the Soysambu Conservancy office. With a 24-hour notice to guarantee availability.

The charge for an SCL Guide is KES 2,000/=per car, and a guide is collected from the main gate. Please make sure there is space for your guide inside your vehicle.

The front office will inform you of the vehicle charges.

Ensure all spotlights have a red filter.

For your safety, never leave your vehicle under any circumstances.

Please register at the operations desk at 0711 235 039) for vehicle registration, the number of tourists, time of arrival and departure, and confirmation of when you are finished.

Normal Conservation Fees apply and are used within a 24-hour period.

Other activities you will enjoy in the conservancy are:

·         Horseback riding

·         Camel rides

·         Safaris on motorcycles.

Hell's Gate National Park

Termed for the special geothermal activity within its boundaries, the Hell's Gate National Park is a remarkable feature of the Great Rift Valley. Spectacular sites such as the towering cliffs, water-gouged gorges, stark rock towers, scrub-clad volcanoes, and belching plumes of geothermal steam make it one of the most beautiful parks in Africa. You can tour Hell's Gate on a day's trip from Nairobi since it's about 90 km, where in addition to the bio-diversity that includes raptors, you can also enjoy mountain biking, rock climbing. The park also has a natural spa on the western side of the park, the Olkaria Geothermal Spa. You will enjoy swimming in the geothermal pools. The Spa underground waters are steamy, warm, and enriched by minerals. In the park you will also enjoy:

Climbing

On arrival at the park, you can hire a guide and rent safety gear and climb Fischer's Tower, which has some easy routes appropriate for beginners.

Hiking.

You can enjoy a couple of hiking paths, such as Crescent Island and along Crater Lake. The most convenient time for hiking is during the dry season of June through October.

Mountain biking.

One of the most common routes to follow is the dusty gravel Gorge Road through the valley to the Ranger's Post, where you will see zebras, gazelles, buffalos. Additionally, the Buffalo Circuit route allows you a better view of the giraffes. You can rent a bicycle at the entrance, although the bikes are usually in pretty bad shape. Therefore, having your own bicycle will be better. The roads are in poor shape, sometimes consisting of sand, and after the entrance, the road is sloppy downwards towards the main entrance, so you will have to get off the bike. This will be very tedious on your way back. If you are physically fit, biking is an excellent way to make sure you have enough time to see and enjoy the park.

Nakuru is an excellent gateway to the historic beauty of the wild animals, birds, Menengai crater, and the magnificent Olkaria Geothermal Spa. It is also home to some of the modern hotels and lodges in Kenya that will allow you as a visitor to enjoy a warm welcome from the tourism industry. The activities and the fun you will have in Nakuru are memorable for you and your family, making it your best tourist destination in Kenya.