The 2 Day Lake Nakuru and Lake Naivasha Safari is a private road safari from Nairobi. You spend one night at Sarova Lion Hill Game Lodge inside Lake Nakuru National Park. On day two, you take a boat ride on Lake Naivasha and walk on Crescent Island. Along the way, you look for rhinos, Rothschild's giraffes, flamingos and hippos. A professional driver-guide leads the trip in a 4x4 safari vehicle.
Safari Overview: What Is the 2-Day Lake Nakuru and Lake Naivasha Safari?
Some safaris need a week. This one needs a weekend. The 2-day Lake Nakuru and Lake Naivasha safari explores the Great Rift Valley in three ways. First, you game drive among rhinos and giraffes at Lake Nakuru. Next, you cruise past Naivasha's hippos by boat. Finally, you walk on foot across Crescent Island. It suits couples, families, birdwatchers and travellers short on time.
Tour at a Glance
- Duration: 2 days, 1 night
- Start and end: Nairobi, with hotel or airport pickup and drop-off
- Destinations: Lake Nakuru National Park and Lake Naivasha (including Crescent Island)
- Vehicle: Private 4x4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof
- Guide: Professional English-speaking driver-guide
- Accommodation: Sarova Lion Hill Game Lodge (1 night)
- Best time: June to October and December to March (dry seasons)
- Ideal for: Couples, families, birdwatchers and travellers with a free weekend
Lake Nakuru vs Lake Naivasha: Two Lakes, Two Safari Styles
Lake Nakuru National Park (188 km²) lies about 160 km north-west of Nairobi. In 1987, it became Kenya's first government rhino sanctuary. Today, it protects both black and white rhinos, plus endangered Rothschild's giraffes. The alkaline lake is a Ramsar wetland with over 400 bird species. However, rising water has grown the lake from about 40 to 68 km² since 2010. As a result, flamingo numbers now change from season to season.
Lake Naivasha is a freshwater lake about 90 km from Nairobi. Hippos, fish eagles and pelicans live along its papyrus-fringed shores. On its eastern side, Crescent Island has no large predators. So you can walk safely among giraffes, zebras and wildebeest.
Lake Nakuru's Rhino Comeback Story
Lake Nakuru is one of Kenya's great conservation success stories. By 1987, poaching had left only two black rhinos in the park. That year, Kenya fenced the park and made it the country's first government rhino sanctuary. Rangers then brought in a breeding herd from Laikipia. Today, the park holds one of Kenya's largest black rhino populations, alongside white rhinos. As a result, it is one of the best places in Kenya to see rhinos on a short safari.
Source: Kenya Wildlife Service
Accommodation: Where Will You Stay on This Safari?
You stay on a full-board basis, with upgrades available on request.
- Night 1: Sarova Lion Hill Game Lodge, Lake Nakuru. Set on Lion Hill inside the park, with 67 lake-facing chalets, a pool and a spa. Game drives start minutes from your door.
Best Time to Visit Lake Nakuru and Lake Naivasha
The best time for a 2-day Lake Nakuru and Lake Naivasha safari is the dry season. This runs from June to October and December to March. During these months, roads stay firm and wildlife is easier to find. Even so, both lakes reward visitors all year.
- June to October: peak game viewing and cool, clear mornings.
- November: short rains, green scenery and arriving migrant birds.
- December to March: warm, dry days and excellent birdwatching.
- April to May: long rains, lush landscapes and lower rates.
Tour Highlights: Rhinos, Hippos and a Walk Among Giraffes
- Pause at the Great Rift Valley viewpoint, with Mount Longonot on the horizon.
- Track black and white rhinos and endangered Rothschild's giraffes at Lake Nakuru.
- Watch the sun sink over the lake from Baboon Cliff.
- Drift past hippos and fish eagles on Lake Naivasha.
- Walk among zebras and giraffes on predator-free Crescent Island.
