Lake Nakuru National Park

🇰🇪 Kenya

🦩 Kenya's Premier Rhinoceros and Flamingo Sanctuary

🌍 #16 Global · 4.8 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #12 in Africa #12 in Savanna & Grassland

East Africa, Kenya 1246 spp. recorded

Lake Nakuru National Park sits within the Rift Valley of Kenya, featuring a protected tropical savanna landscape of open grasslands, dense acacia woodlands, and rocky cliffs. This protected wetland basin combines shallow shorelines with dry rolling hills, offering varied terrain for walking tracks and vehicle safaris.

-0.380° S 36.094° E

Wildlife

⭐ Iconic Species

Lesser Flamingo

Phoeniconaias minor

60–70% · Likely

White Rhinoceros

Ceratotherium simum

60–70% · Likely

Northern Giraffe

Giraffa camelopardalis

60–70% · Likely

Lion

Panthera leo

40–50% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Great White Pelican

Pelecanus onocrotalus

80–90% · Very likely

Olive Baboon

Papio anubis

80–90% · Very likely

Egyptian Goose

Alopochen aegyptiaca

70–80% · Very likely

African Fish-Eagle

Haliaeetus vocifer

70–80% · Very likely

Impala

Aepyceros melampus

70–80% · Very likely

Common Warthog

Phacochoerus africanus

70–80% · Very likely

Grey Heron

Ardea cinerea

70–80% · Very likely

Superb Starling

Lamprotornis superbus

70–80% · Very likely

Vervet Monkey

Chlorocebus pygerythrus

70–80% · Very likely

Marabou Stork

Leptoptilos crumenifer

70–80% · Very likely

Yellow-billed Stork

Mycteria ibis

60–70% · Likely

Blacksmith Lapwing

Vanellus armatus

60–70% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

White Rhinoceros

Ceratotherium simum

60–70% · Likely

Northern Giraffe

Giraffa camelopardalis

60–70% · Likely

Lion

Panthera leo

40–50% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Olive Baboon

Papio anubis

80–90% · Very likely

Impala

Aepyceros melampus

70–80% · Very likely

Common Warthog

Phacochoerus africanus

70–80% · Very likely

Vervet Monkey

Chlorocebus pygerythrus

70–80% · Very likely

African Buffalo

Syncerus caffer

50–60% · Likely

Common Eland

Taurotragus oryx

50–60% · Likely

Spotted Hyena

Crocuta crocuta

50–60% · Likely

Plains Zebra

Equus quagga

50–60% · Likely

Waterbuck

Kobus ellipsiprymnus

50–60% · Likely

Thomson's Gazelle

Eudorcas thomsonii

50–60% · Likely

Rock Hyrax

Procavia capensis

40–50% · Likely

Black Rhinoceros

Diceros bicornis

40–50% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

Lesser Flamingo

Phoeniconaias minor

60–70% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Great White Pelican

Pelecanus onocrotalus

80–90% · Very likely

Egyptian Goose

Alopochen aegyptiaca

70–80% · Very likely

African Fish-Eagle

Haliaeetus vocifer

70–80% · Very likely

Grey Heron

Ardea cinerea

70–80% · Very likely

Superb Starling

Lamprotornis superbus

70–80% · Very likely

Marabou Stork

Leptoptilos crumenifer

70–80% · Very likely

Yellow-billed Stork

Mycteria ibis

60–70% · Likely

Blacksmith Lapwing

Vanellus armatus

60–70% · Likely

Augur Buzzard

Buteo augur

60–70% · Likely

Great Cormorant

Phalacrocorax carbo

60–70% · Likely

Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu

Uraeginthus bengalus

60–70% · Likely

Northern Anteater-Chat

Myrmecocichla aethiops

60–70% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Leopard Tortoise

Stigmochelys pardalis

30–40% · Possible

African Striped Skink

Trachylepis striata

30–40% · Possible

Nile Monitor

Varanus niloticus

20–30% · Possible

Tropical House Gecko

Hemidactylus mabouia

Insufficient data

Jackson's Forest Lizard

Adolfus jacksoni

Insufficient data

Kenyan Rock Agama

Agama lionotus

Insufficient data

Gregory's Blue-headed Agama

Acanthocercus gregorii

Insufficient data

Black-necked Spitting Cobra

Naja nigricollis

Insufficient data

Kenya Dwarf Gecko

Lygodactylus keniensis

Insufficient data

Nile Crocodile

Crocodylus niloticus

Insufficient data

Black Mamba

Dendroaspis polylepis

Insufficient data

Side-striped Chameleon

Trioceros bitaeniatus

Insufficient data

📊 Most Spotted

Common Reed Frog

Hyperolius viridiflavus

Insufficient data

Edible bullfrog

Pyxicephalus edulis

Insufficient data

Garman's Toad

Sclerophrys garmani

Insufficient data

Animal Events

🦌

Rhinoceros and Ungulate Dry Season Concentration

MarJulSepDec

As seasonal water sources recede, the White Rhinoceros and other large herbivores like the African Buffalo concentrate densely around remaining permanent wetlands.

White Rhinoceros

Ceratotherium simum

60–70% · Likely

African Buffalo

Syncerus caffer

50–60% · Likely

🐦

Greater and Lesser Flamingo Seasonality Shift

JanMarApr

Fluctuating water levels and shifting algae concentrations cause both Greater Flamingo and Lesser Flamingo populations to peak dynamically across the alkaline shallows.

Greater Flamingo

Phoenicopterus roseus

40–50% · Likely

Lesser Flamingo

Phoeniconaias minor

60–70% · Likely

🐦

Acacia Woodland Bird Breeding Peak

AprMaySepNov

The arrival of seasonal rains triggers high breeding activity and vibrant plumage displays among woodland residents like the Rüppell's Glossy-starling and the Pied Kingfisher.

Pied Kingfisher

Ceryle rudis

40–50% · Likely

Rüppell's Glossy-starling

Lamprotornis purpuroptera

40–50% · Likely

Sighting Calendar

Chance of spotting each species, month by month

Species Total

60–70

60–70

70–80

70–80

60–70

70–80

70–80

70–80

70–80

60–70

60–70

60–70

Lesser Flamingo

70–80

50–60

70–80

70–80

50–60

60–70

70–80

70–80

70–80

60–70

60–70

50–60

White Rhinoceros

60–70

50–60

70–80

50–60

40–50

60–70

60–70

50–60

70–80

40–50

40–50

70–80

Northern Giraffe

60–70

70–80

70–80

60–70

50–60

60–70

60–70

70–80

60–70

60–70

40–50

40–50

40–50

40–50

40–50

70–80

10–20

40–50

50–60

30–40

40–50

50–60

10–20

40–50

Great White Pelican

80–90

70–80

60–70

80–90

80–90

80–90

80–90

80–90

80–90

80–90

80–90

70–80

80–90

80–90

80–90

70–80

70–80

80–90

70–80

80–90

80–90

80–90

70–80

70–80

60–70

70–80

80–90

80–90

70–80

80–90

80–90

70–80

70–80

80–90

80–90

70–80

African Fish-Eagle

70–80

80–90

70–80

90–100

70–80

70–80

60–70

70–80

80–90

70–80

80–90

70–80

70–80

70–80

70–80

70–80

70–80

70–80

70–80

70–80

70–80

70–80

70–80

60–70

70–80

80–90

80–90

70–80

70–80

60–70

70–80

70–80

60–70

70–80

40–50

30–40

60–70

60–70

50–60

70–80

70–80

70–80

80–90

60–70

70–80

70–80

70–80

60–70

Superb Starling

60–70

60–70

80–90

80–90

60–70

70–80

60–70

70–80

70–80

70–80

70–80

50–60

50–60

70–80

70–80

80–90

60–70

70–80

70–80

60–70

70–80

70–80

70–80

60–70

60–70

70–80

60–70

80–90

70–80

80–90

70–80

70–80

70–80

60–70

70–80

50–60

Yellow-billed Stork

50–60

40–50

40–50

70–80

70–80

70–80

70–80

70–80

70–80

60–70

70–80

70–80

Blacksmith Lapwing

60–70

50–60

70–80

70–80

60–70

60–70

70–80

60–70

60–70

60–70

60–70

60–70

Animal Events

🦌 Rhinoceros and Ungulate Dry Season Concentration

🐦 Greater and Lesser Flamingo Seasonality Shift

🐦 Acacia Woodland Bird Breeding Peak

Sighting Zones

Warm areas are where all species together are recorded most, so they track where people go as much as where animals are. For one species, see the map on its own page.

0.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ World-class

🦩 Kenya's Premier Rhinoceros and Flamingo Sanctuary

🦜

Biodiversity

Very good

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg

4.5 ★★★★★ ★★★★★

Species by taxon

🦅 Birds

839

🐒 Mammals

256

🦎 Reptiles

113

🐸 Amphibians

38

1246 Total Species

841 Global average across 280 parks

49 Threatened 5 Endemic

🔭

Sighting

Excellent

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg

5.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★

🎯

Top-12 Avg Probability

62% Global avg

75%

📊

Coverage (264 species at ≥5% of 1246 in the inventory)

24% Global avg

21%

🔀

Taxon variety in top 12 (8 bird, 4 mammal)

47% Global avg

59%

🔭

Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)

132 Global avg

205

🌟

Iconic-group species (≥15%) (every species from the 19 iconic groups — monkeys, cats, toucans, macaws, sloths, crocodilians… — not just the 4 highlighted above)

14 Global avg

28

⭐

High-prob species (>40%)

26 Global avg

60

Explore Other Parks

Nairobi National Park

📍 137 km 🦁 Spot Wild Lions Overlooking Skyscrapers

Nairobi National Park

🇰🇪 Kenya 🌍 #14 Global · 4.8 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #10 in Africa #10 in Savanna & Grassland

Masai Mara National Reserve

📍 162 km 🐆 Cheetah Chase During Migration

Masai Mara National Reserve

🇰🇪 Kenya 🌍 #34 Global · 4.7 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #22 in Africa #23 in Savanna & Grassland

Samburu National Reserve

📍 197 km 🦒 Somali Giraffe Roaming Samburu Savannah

Samburu National Reserve

🇰🇪 Kenya 🌍 #22 Global · 4.8 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #15 in Africa #16 in Savanna & Grassland

Meru National Park

📍 236 km 🦒 Somali Giraffe Thrives at Meru

Meru National Park

🇰🇪 Kenya 🌍 #23 Global · 4.8 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #16 in Africa #17 in Savanna & Grassland