Nakuru County · Kenya
Nakuru travel guide
Nakuru is a city in Nakuru County, Kenya, home to about 308,000 people.
- Best months
- September and December to March
- Nearest airport
- NYK111 km · Nanyuki Civil Airport
- Currency
- KESKenyan shilling
- Time zone
- Africa/Nairobi
- Language
- English, Swahili
About
About Nakuru
Nakuru, sometimes referred to as Nakuru City, is the capital and largest city of Nakuru County, Kenya. As of 2019, Nakuru had an urban population of 570,674.
Nakuru is the administrative and economical headquarters of Nakuru County. Sitting between Nairobi and Western Kenya, it also serves as a transit city for many travellers. Nakuru is the fourth largest city in Kenya after Kisumu City.
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Nakuru
See
Lake Nakuru National Park is home to the famous pink flamingoes. It also offers viewing of various other species of animals and birds. Menengai Crater is a dormant volcanoes that still spews out smoke. A view from the edge of the crater is a must.
- Hyrax Hill Prehistoric Site and Museum
Do
You can visit the Lake Nakuru National Park which is nearby or get inside the malls. Visit a game of rugby at Nakuru Athletics Club on a Saturday at 2PM and 4PM.
- Lake Nakuru National Park
- Menengai Forest
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Which part of Nakuru to stay in
There are a great many budget hotels available in Nakuru, many are within 5 minutes walking distance from the Matatu station.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
When to go
The best time to visit Nakuru
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Nakuru are September and December to March. February is the warmest month, with average highs of 25 °C; August is the wettest, with about 125 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Getting there
Getting to Nakuru: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Nanyuki Civil Airport (NYK), about 111 km from the city centre in a straight line; Eldoret International Airport (EDL, 120 km) and Nairobi Wilson Airport (WIL, 142 km) are also within reach.
Getting in
L. Nakuru airstrip is available for landing. Passenger services from Nairobi and Kisumu resumed in 2021. Rehabilitation on the line from the border with Uganda via Eldoret is ongoing and passenger services is expected to commence in 2022.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
NYK · Nanyuki Civil Airport
EDL · Eldoret International Airport
WIL · Nairobi Wilson Airport
Questions
Nakuru: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Nakuru?
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Nakuru are September and December to March. February is the warmest month, with average highs of 25 °C; August is the wettest, with about 125 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Nakuru?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Nanyuki Civil Airport (NYK), about 111 km from the city centre in a straight line; Eldoret International Airport (EDL, 120 km) and Nairobi Wilson Airport (WIL, 142 km) are also within reach.
What currency is used in Nakuru?
Kenyan shilling (KES).
Nearby
Destinations near Nakuru
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.