Nakuru

Sunrise over Nakuru

Nakuru is a city in the Southern Rift Valley region of Kenya.

Understand

Nakuru
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D       29     27 9       45     28 9       69     28 10       141     26 12       130     25 11       79     24 10       92     24 10       105     24 10       89     26 9       70     25 9       70     24 10       44     26 9 Average max. and min. temperatures in °C Precipitation+Snow totals in mm w:Nakuru#Climate
Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D       1.1     81 48       1.8     82 49       2.7     82 50       5.6     78 53       5.1     77 52       3.1     76 50       3.6     75 50       4.1     75 50       3.5     78 48       2.8     78 48       2.8     76 50       1.7     78 48 Average max. and min. temperatures in °F Precipitation+Snow totals in inches

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.

Get in

By plane

L. Nakuru airstrip is available for landing.

By train

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.

• 1 Nakuru railway station. (updated May 2021)

By car

From Nairobi, the 158-km (100-mile) journey would take approximately 2 hours. The roads can be dangerous as not all sections have dual carriageways. The scenery is beautiful, from Nairobi you will see the Great Rift Valley below from the highway. To Nakuru from Kericho it is 108 km, from Nyahururu it is 65 km, and from Eldoret it is 156 km.

By bus and shuttle

• Mololine Prestige Shuttle, Crossroads, 2NK shuttle offer 9-seater up to 14 seater minivan services to Nairobi, Kisumu and Eldoret.
• Mololine Prestige Shuttle is known for its excellent service and security. It has only 10 seats per minivan. Takes 3 hours.
• The large bus companies Easy Coach & Modern Coast Express have Nairobi to Kampala coaches which stop in Nakuru. Busways have booking offices opposite the mosque.
• Easy Coach & Modern Coast Express has buses from Nairobi 3 hours, Eldoret 3 hours, Kisumu 4 hours.
• There are also buses going from Kericho, Nyahururu and Kisii.
• There also other buses from Kigali, Trinity buses are an example.
• Tosha Express buses from Nakuru to Nairobi or from Nakuru to Kitale which goes northward to Kakuma Refugee Camp in Turkana

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.

• 1 Hyrax Hill Prehistoric Site and Museum. A major site of Neolithic and Iron Age findings in Kenya, includes a museum. (updated May 2021)

Do

Flamingos at Lake Nakuru.

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.

• 1 Lake Nakuru National Park. (updated May 2021)
• 2 Menengai Forest. (updated May 2021)

Buy

• Westside Mall, Kenyatta Aveune, ☏ +254 717333813. 9AM-9PM. Has a Naivas supermarket and a food court. (updated Jun 2023)
• Ecobank, westside mall, ☏ +254 20-2883000. 24 hour. Has a no-fee Master Card/Visa Card ATM. (updated Jun 2023)
• Naivas Supermarket, old Nairobi Road Milimani Estate. 8AM-9PM. (updated Jun 2023)
• Quick Mart Supermarket, Pandit Nehru Road.. 8AM-9PM. (updated Jun 2023)
• Clean Self Supermarket, Pandit Nehru Road.. 8AM-8PM. (updated Jun 2023)
• Cooperative Bank, Kenyatta aveune (city center). 24 hours. Has a no fee Mastercard/Visa card ATM. (updated Jun 2023)

Eat

Budget

• Rift Fries Restaurant, Inder singh road. 8am-8pm. great value for money food. 

Mid-range

• Taidys (Mburu Gichua road at the south end by the roundabout.). A mix of African and Western food. Pizza Ksh 300, most courses a little less. 

Splurge

• Merica Hotel (Wwst end of Kenyatta Avenue). Western food in an upmarket hotel. Meals for around Ksh 500, they also have a pool you can use for Ksh 300. 

Drink

Local drinks (Tusker) from the local bars, pops are available.

• Blue Magic bar and lounge (Blue Magic bar and lounge), Kiti,mawanga. (Taxi, motorbike, tuktuk), ☏ +254 722437761, reevjay538@gmail.com. 10AM-midnight. Local and international quality drinks all at affordable prices. Wide variety of whiskeys, vodkas, brandy and beer. A place you definitely want to visit and share the experience with friendly staff and clientelle. US$10. (updated Nov 2016)

Sleep

There are a great many budget hotels available in Nakuru, many are within 5 minutes walking distance from the Matatu station.

Budget

• Care Guest House, Gusii road (city centre), ☏ +254 721636447. Single/double room with own hot water bathroom. Ksh 800/1200. (updated Jun 2023)
• 1 Premier lodge, ☏ +254 710119592. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 10:00. Wifi. Parking. Rooms with mosquito net and bathroom/hot shower. Cafe with simple food on site. Have power generator, but it is used only in the morning/at night during longer outages. 600-1000 Ksh. (updated Sep 2021)
• 2 Yara Airbnbs (Mashi Airbnbs) (Opposite Nakuru Athletics Club Gray Gate), ☏ +254 799134471, mashikenya@gmail.com. Check-in: 0001, check-out: 1100. One and Two bedroom furnished homes. 3000. (updated Nov 2022)

Mid-range

• 3 Chester Hotel, General Kariba Street, near Moi Rd (100 metres west of Afraha Stadium), ☏ +254 020-2327654. Check-out: 10AM. Clean, secure, and comfortable hotel with pleasant staff. Wireless internet in lobby, good restaurant. US$40/single, $60/double, $85/triple. (updated Jan 2013)

Connect

At the Westside Mall (intersection Kenyatta Ave and West Road) is a Java Coffee (like Starbucks) with free Wifi and good coffee. There are also many "Cyber" (internet cafes) all over down town.