Lake Nakuru National Park daytrip in Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya
Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya

Lake Nakuru National Park daytrip

Outty Ranking 63 5.0 · 7 traveler reviews12 hoursFrom $297
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Outty Ranking

63/100

Solid Choice. Our proprietary evaluation. How we score

Traveler rating

5.0/5

Based on 7 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.

Quick answer

Is Lake Nakuru National Park daytrip worth booking?

Lake Nakuru National Park daytrip is a 12-hour experience in Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya, from $297 per person. It scores 63 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Solid Choice”, based on a 5/5 rating across 7 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.

Outty Ranking
63 / 100
Rating
5/5 (7)
Duration
12 hours
From
$297 per person

This is a full safari experience squeezed to fit in one day. The destination is close enough to Nairobi, the capital city, yet far enough to afford you a full wilderness safari experience. You will travel through beautiful landscapes as you catch glimpses of countryside village life in Kenya.

What you get

    About this experience

    This is a full safari experience squeezed to fit in one day. The destination is close enough to Nairobi, the capital city, yet far enough to afford you a full wilderness safari experience. You will travel through beautiful landscapes as you catch glimpses of countryside village life in Kenya.

    What's included

    Included

    • Private transportation
    • Bottled water
    • Wildlife viewing drive inside the park
    • All Fees and Taxes
    • Professional guide cum driver

    Not included

    • Soft drinks and alcoholic drinks, tips and other items of a personal nature.
    • Boat safari on the lake
    • Lunch

    What you'll see and do

    1. A panoramic view of the Great Rift Valley while on top of the escarpment on the way to the lake. This is a great photographic opportunity.

      30 minutes here

    2. Lake Nakuru National Park

      Located at an altitude of 4,000-5,767 feet above sea level, this wildlife park covers 188 square km of land of great ecological diversity - from lake water, woodland, bush grassland, to rocky ridges. The park is home to not just the lesser flamingo but over 400 species of birds and one of the few places to see the endangered white rhino. Other wildlife at the park includes lions, leopards, zebra, gazelles, eland, giraffe and the hyrax.

      360 minutes here

    3. Lake Naivasha

      You will catch a glimpse of this lake at a distance as you drive down the escarpment.

      Pass by without stopping

    4. Mount Longonot National Park

      You will see this extinct volcanic mountain sitting on the floor of the Great Rift Valley as you descend the escarpment.

      Pass by without stopping

    5. Mai Mahiu Catholic Church

      This is the smallest chapel in Africa which was built by the Italian prisoners of World War Two in 1942.

      5 minutes here

    Where it starts and ends

    Hotel pickup

    Pickup is included for all travelers. Pickup begins about 45 minutes before departure.

    Before you book

    Cancellation
    For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
    Languages
    en
    Ticket
    Mobile Only
    Runs on
    Every day
    Group size
    Up to 7 travelers per booking
    Operated by
    Mwema Africa Safaris

    Know before you go

    • Service animals allowed
    • Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
    • Suitable for all physical fitness levels

    Photos

    Makalia falls, Lake Nakuru National Park daytrip in Maasai Mara National ReserveLake Nakuru National Park daytrip in Maasai Mara National Reserve, photo 3Lake Nakuru National Park daytrip in Maasai Mara National Reserve, photo 4Lake Nakuru National Park daytrip in Maasai Mara National Reserve, photo 5Lake Nakuru National Park daytrip in Maasai Mara National Reserve, photo 6

    What travelers are saying

    Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 7 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.

    The guide

    7 mentions

    Travelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.

    Organization

    4 mentions

    Pickup, timing, and logistics are described as running smoothly.

    Traveler reviews

    7 verified traveler reviews for Lake Nakuru National Park daytrip. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.

    5 star
    7
    4 star
    0
    3 star
    0
    2 star
    0
    1 star
    0
    Sort
    B4800JI_ · January 2024

    Great safari in Kenya with Mwema Africa Safaris

    We arrived in Nairobi on January 01, 2024. By agreement, our guide and driver Eric were waiting for us at the meeting place. Everything was exactly at the specified time. Special thanks to Eric for his punctuality throughout the route! On the first day, we headed from Nairobi to our parking place and overnight near the Masai Mara Park. We visited the Masai village. It was interesting, but a little uncomfortable because of the poor and very natural lifestyle of these people. I hope that their lives will change for the better soon. The next day was completely dedicated to the Masai Mara Park. In which, thanks to Eric, we were lucky enough to see a pride of lions, hyenas, cheetahs, warthogs, elephants, giraffes, ostriches, buffaloes, hippos, many antelopes, zebras and wildebeest. This is only the main part of the animal world that we have encountered. At certain points, thanks to our excellent guide Eric, we were alone on the road, which the giraffe was crossing importantly. They also saw a herd of elephants very close, and there was not a single car around. To summarize the first day of the safari: we saw three animals from the Big Five! Special thanks to Eric for the interesting and informative stories about the animal world and the life of Kenyans! The next day we visited Lake Naivasha with amazing hippos in the water and an amazing island that turned out to be almost a contact zoo! Since there are no predators there, the safari was on foot. In this place, you can get very close (within reasonable limits) and look at zebras, giraffes, antelopes and wildebeest. There are also a lot of birds there! Wonderful and enthusiastic impressions of this place!!! After breakfast and another transfer, we found ourselves at a park overlooking the majestic Mount Kilimanjaro. There is a new excellent Amboseli Park here. On an afternoon safari, we met elephants, giraffes, zebras and many other funny animals. In the morning, the clouds around Kilimandaro parted and we managed to take wonderful pictures against the background of the snow cap of this highest mountain in Africa! And our further way lay to East Tsavo Park. And here we were waiting for two discoveries: first, it turns out that there are red elephants, and secondly, we saw the world's smallest antelope Dikdiki. This is the end of our wonderful safari. And despite the fact that we didn't manage to see the whole Big Five, we hope to come back and do it again! All the crossings were not very tedious, despite the fact that we drove a total of 1,500 km. The food and accommodation in all places of overnight stays are good. In some cases, we were even just the two of us! :) Thanks to Mwema Africa Safaris for the excellent organization and great experiences!!! Special thanks to our super driver Eric!

    via Tripadvisor

    638catiaf · August 2022

    Over all expectations

    Mwema Safari was recomended to me by a friend of mine, who made a wonderful safari with Simon and his team in Tsavo East a few years ago. This time they organized a 5 days safari from 1st to 6th of August. We spent 2 days in Masai Mara Reserve, 2 days in Nakuru National Park and one day in Nairobi National Park with amazing driver and guide Paul and than, after 9 days spent in Watamu, 1 night safari in Tsavo East National Park., with great and funny Rahid. Everything was tailored for us by Simon who is a very collaborative man, but, over all, has a special very rare gift: he hears you, he can understand what you really need and costumize your safari perfectly. We've been in touch continously in order to find the best solutions concerning logistics, hotels, and so on. So we had the best safari ever: we saw all wild beasts which leave in Kenya: big fives, birds, cheethas, crocodiles, etc etc.... Thank you Mwema Safari for your proficiency, correctness and for the friendly "African style" of your staff. Hope we can cross our paths very soon.

    via Tripadvisor

    WandererRoy · July 2022

    A Trip of A Lifetime with amazing MWEMA Africa safaris 😍 Kenya and Tanzania

    A Trip of a Lifetime with the amazing MWEMA Africa Safaris. We wanted a customized Wildlife Trip to Kenya 🇰🇪 and Tanzania 🇹🇿 for 2 adults and a child in a private 4X4 Land Cruiser for 9 full days in late May 2022. We covered 6 National Parks..Masai Mara, Lake Nakuru, Amboselli, Manyara, Ngorongoro and Serengeti NP. Our Safari Trip Manager Mr. Simon made things so smooth and effortless and the whole Trip went like a charm. Simon kept all our request like The Masai Village Tour, Land Transfer, Hotel upgradation keeping our budget requirements in mind. Special thanks for that 🙏. Our Guides - Richard in Kenya and Haji in Tanzania were so good in spotting and driving. A great human being with great heart. The Trip was so memorable and comfortable and totally an unforgettable one. Thank you MWEMA Africa safaris for making it so special for us. Look no further and book with MWEMA.

    via Tripadvisor

    tonnie69 · June 2022

    Excellent schedule, great driver, fantastic job!

    We did MASAI MARA, LAKE NAKURU, LAKE NAIVASHA, AMBOSELI for five days and I must say we got the greatest service all the time. We chose Mwema for our mid-range safari and were so happy for our choice. The company made us feel safe which is important in Africa. All of our 'fine tuning adjustments' to the schedule were accepted. Our driver Paul was incredibly skilled and well-experienced. We rode a van instead of Land Cruiser, but never regret about that. Thank you Paul!. This company is doing their job in a fantastic way, so if somebody wants to go to Kenya and see a great variety of animals, including Big five and Big nine, just connect Mwema and in the end will be happy with the price, hotels, service and the great driver Paul!

    via Tripadvisor

    Coastal45447170584 · June 2022

    Excellent, well planned. Recommended.

    Excellent guide, Paul, and very well planned. We made a three day, night's tour. Amboseli and Tsavo and the accommodation was excellent. Although off season so we were practically alone. More fun with more people. Meet plenty of wild animals and of course the big five. We whish the very best of luck to all of you. And hope that the tourists returns to Kenya.

    via Tripadvisor

    Good to know

    Duration
    12 hours
    Free cancellation
    Up to 24h before
    Minimum age to book
    All ages
    Availability
    Bookable today
    Runs on
    Every day
    Hotel pickup
    Included for all travelers
    Booked in 30 days
    2
    Verdict
    Solid Choice

    Why this scores 63

    The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.

    Traveler sentiment (30% weight)89
    Review evidence (18% weight)39
    Booking momentum (14% weight)26
    Value for money (12% weight)56
    Listing quality (10% weight)64
    Local standing (8% weight)57
    Booking flexibility (8% weight)100

    Lake Nakuru National Park daytrip: questions travelers ask

    Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Maasai Mara National Reserve.

    How much does Lake Nakuru National Park daytrip cost?

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    Prices start at $297 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Maasai Mara National Reserve usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.

    How long does Lake Nakuru National Park daytrip take?

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    Plan for about 12 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Maasai Mara National Reserve is not rushed.

    Is Lake Nakuru National Park daytrip worth it?

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    It holds an Outty Ranking of 63 out of 100, which we label "Solid Choice". That score blends traveler sentiment (5/5 across 7 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Maasai Mara National Reserve, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.

    Can I cancel or reschedule Lake Nakuru National Park daytrip?

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    Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.

    Is Lake Nakuru National Park daytrip suitable for kids and families?

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    Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 12-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.

    How far in advance should I book Lake Nakuru National Park daytrip?

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    Around 2 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Maasai Mara National Reserve can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.

    What should I bring or wear?

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    Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Maasai Mara National Reserve and add a light layer if any part of the 12-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.

    Where does Lake Nakuru National Park daytrip start and how do I get there?

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    The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Maasai Mara National Reserve within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.

    What are the best things to do in Maasai Mara National Reserve?

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    On Outty we rank every Maasai Mara National Reserve experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include African Wildlife & Nature - 5 Kenya national parks - 6 day Jeep Safari, 2 Days Classic Maasai Mara Safari, 4-Day Tour in Lake Nakuru, Lake Naivash, Masai Mara from Nairobi. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.

    When is the best time to visit Maasai Mara National Reserve?

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    Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.

    How many days do you need in Maasai Mara National Reserve?

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    Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.

    Do I book through Outty or through the operator?

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    Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.

    What is included in Lake Nakuru National Park daytrip?

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    Included: Private transportation; Bottled water; Wildlife viewing drive inside the park; All Fees and Taxes; and Professional guide cum driver. Not included: Soft drinks and alcoholic drinks, tips and other items of a personal nature; Boat safari on the lake; and Lunch. Always check the voucher for the final list before you travel.

    Does Lake Nakuru National Park daytrip include hotel pickup?

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    Yes, pickup is offered for every traveler from 626 listed pickup locations in and around Maasai Mara National Reserve. Be ready about 45 minutes before the start time. You can also enter a custom pickup address when booking.

    What languages is Lake Nakuru National Park daytrip offered in?

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    It runs in English. Pick your language when choosing a date and time, as not every departure runs in every language.

    Will I get instant confirmation and a mobile ticket for Lake Nakuru National Park daytrip?

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    Confirmation is sent by the operator after booking, usually within 48 hours; if it is not confirmed you are not charged. Mobile tickets are accepted, so you can show the voucher on your phone.

    Is Lake Nakuru National Park daytrip wheelchair or stroller accessible?

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    The operator notes: Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap. If accessibility is critical, contact the operator after booking to confirm arrangements for your date.

    What happens to Lake Nakuru National Park daytrip if the weather is bad?

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    It generally runs rain or shine, so dress for the forecast in Maasai Mara National Reserve. Standard cancellation terms apply: free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start.

    What do travelers say about Lake Nakuru National Park daytrip?

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    Across 7 reviews averaging 5.0 out of 5, recurring themes include the guide, organization. Travelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.

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