How much does it cost to travel to Lake Nakuru?
You should plan to spend around $113 (KES14,909) per day on your vacation in Lake Nakuru. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.
Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:
- $40 (KES5,271) on meals
- $40 (KES5,272) on local transportation
- $87 (KES11,515) on hotels
A one week trip to Lake Nakuru for two people costs, on average, $1,583 (KES208,733). This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.
All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.
Independent Travel
Traveling Independently to Lake Nakuru has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.
All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.
Is Lake Nakuru expensive to visit?
Prices in Lake Nakuru are reasonable and comparable to your average travel destination. Hotels, food, and sightseeing are generally within normal price ranges.
Within Africa, Lake Nakuru is a moderately priced destination compared to other places. The overall cost of travel here is fair for the region and comparable to Entebbe or Johannesburg.
For more details, and to find out if it's within your travel budget, see Is Lake Nakuru Expensive?
How much money do I need for a trip to Lake Nakuru?
The average Lake Nakuru trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Lake Nakuru travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.
Category
|
Cost
|
Accommodation 1
(Double Occupancy)
|
KES11,515
($87)
|
Local Transportation 1
|
KES5,272
($40)
|
Food 2
|
KES5,271
($40)
|
Entertainment 1
|
KES4,707
($36)
|
Tips and Handouts 1
|
KES125 -
375
($1 - 3)
|
Alcohol 2
|
KES492 -
1,476
($4 - 11)
|
Accommodation Budget in Lake Nakuru
Calculated from travelers like you
The average price paid for one person for accommodation in Lake Nakuru is $44 (KES5,757). For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in Lake Nakuru is $87 (KES11,515). This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.
Looking for a hotel in Lake Nakuru? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.
Transportation Budget in Lake Nakuru
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The cost of a taxi ride in Lake Nakuru is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $40 (KES5,272) per person, per day, on local transportation in Lake Nakuru.
-
Transportation1
Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
$40
KES5,272
How much does it cost to go to Lake Nakuru? Naturally, it depends on the dates. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all airlines.
The price of renting a car in Lake Nakuru will depends on dates, the type of car, the location, and your age. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all car rental companies.
Food Budget in Lake Nakuru
Calculated from travelers like you
-
While meal prices in Lake Nakuru can vary, the average cost of food in Lake Nakuru is $40 (KES5,271) per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Lake Nakuru should cost around $16 (KES2,108) per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Lake Nakuru is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
-
Food2
Meals for one day
$40
KES5,271
Entertainment Budget in Lake Nakuru
Calculated from travelers like you
-
Entertainment and activities in Lake Nakuru typically cost an average of $36 (KES4,707) per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
-
Entertainment1
Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
$36
KES4,707
Tips and Handouts Budget in Lake Nakuru
Calculated from travelers like you
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Alcohol Budget in Lake Nakuru
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The average person spends about $7.46 (KES984) on alcoholic beverages in Lake Nakuru per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
-
Alcohol2
Drinks for one day
$7.46
KES984
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Lake Nakuru On a Budget
Flamingos at Nakuru National Park, Kenya
Lake Nakuru is one of Kenya's 23 National Parks, also qualifying as one of the two Premium Parks in the country. Located in central Kenya, about 90 miles west of Nairobi, the area encompasses a large lake as well as the surrounding wooded grasslands. A naturalist's paradise, Lake Nakuru is home to wildlife like flamingos, other water birds, and the black and white rhinoceros.
Sights
The sights of Lake Nakuru National Park consist mainly of the native wildlife and natural scenery. While flamingos and rhinos steal the spotlight, the park is home to a total of at least 56 species of mammals from monkeys to lions to zebras, at least 400 species of birds, and over 500 species of flora. The landscapes are varied and beautiful with peaceful grasslands and dense forests. The park does have an entry fee of $80 U.S. dollars for nonresident adults and $40 for children.
As far as scenery goes, the best overlooks in the park can be found at Lion Hill near the Sarova Lion Hill Game Lodge, Baboon Cliff with a great view of the lake and its wildlife, and Out of Africa, a rocky outcropping just a bit higher than Baboon Cliff and less frequented by tourists. From these lookouts, visitors might also catch sight of the volcanoes Suswa and Longonot. Each one is established and can be reached by car. Other lesser viewpoints include Enasoit, Honeymoon, and Lion Ridge.
Neighborhoods
Nukuru town is the nearest hub for shopping and dining just outside the park. Situated between Nairobi and Western Kenya, it acts as the headquarters for the Rift Valley Province as well as a prime transit city for many travelers. As far as food goes, Nukuru is the fourth largest city in Kenya and so has a variety of options from local cuisine to international fare. In regards to shopping, the city is a center for various retail businesses, but there are also locals who sell souvenirs to visitors for a price about 1/3 of the amount you would pay at a lodge gift shop inside the National Park. Nukuru town is definitely a place where you can find the best bargains. A large public market lies to the west of the town on the main thoroughfare to the capital, Nairobi.
Activities
Being a National Park, Lake Nakuru is a hub for outdoor activities. Whether you wish to observe the local wildlife, breathe in the air of African wilderness, or admire the natural landscape, the park is a treasure trove of the great outdoors. Camping and picnicking are very popular, though you must make sure to have all the supplies you need before entering the park. It is also a hotspot for photography, drawing amateurs and professionals from all over with its unique habitat for all things wild. If you're a bird-lover, you will be in birdwatching paradise. Flamingos take the stage with their presence in the lake, but there are about 400 species of bird to catch the eye from ostriches and ducks to stork, heron, osprey, and eagles. The list goes on. Rhinos are also common if you're on the lookout for wildlife, and you might even spot lions, leopards, or cheetahs. Game driving is another popular activity in the park that might give you a better chance to see the more elusive animals.
Food and Dining
The best way to enjoy the great outdoors and still get your meals in is to bring food with you and eat picnic style. If you are camping, you will definitely want to come fully stocked. However if you want to splurge, any of the park's lodges will offer a buffet or a la carte menu for an average price of $40 per person. Some even have poolside bars if you're looking to kick back for happy hour. In the nearby Nukuru town, restaurants serve a variety of options from Western to African. Most African staples include maize (a type of grain) served with meats and vegetables, as well as corn, potatoes, and beans. Ugali is a cornmeal starch made into a thick paste, Sukuma wiki is collard greens and usually fried in oil with onions and tomatoes, and nyama choma is the East African style of slow roasted meat over coals. Some restaurants in Nukuru include Ribbons for budget African food, Taidys for mid-range mix of Western and African fare, and the Merica Hotel for upmarket Western cuisine.
Transportation
If you are arriving by air, it's about a 25-minute flight from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi to the Naishi airstrip inside the park.
Once you are in the park, the best way to get around is by car. Most of the park's roads are well maintained and can be navigated easily by 2-wheel-drive vehicles.
The Naironi-Nakuru highway is the most direct car route from Nairobi, and is very scenic once you reach the confines of the park with views of the Rift Valley and surrounding volcanoes.
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We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.