List Of 10 Best Places To Visit In Nakuru County

Nakuru is the fourth largest County in Kenya, with an estimated population of 2,162,202 people. It is one of the major tourist destinations in Kenya. It is endowed with unique attractions and different species of wildlife. The county is headed by Governor Lee Kinyanjui.

In no particular order, here is a list of ten best places to visit in Nakuru County.

1. Lake Nakuru National Park

The park is located approximately four kilometres from Nakuru town centre. The park features about 550 different plant species, picturesque landscape, a variety of wildlife species, hills and waterfalls.  It is one of the best parks for camping and game viewing and hiking activities.

2. Hell’s Gate National Park

The park is located in Naivasha. It features beautiful sceneries of towering cliffs, stark rock towers, water-gouged gorges, scrub-clad volcanoes, hot springs, belching plumes of geothermal steam, wildlife such as zebras, gazelles, buffalos, cheetahs, leopards and lions. Major activities one can engage in at the park include; camping, bird watching, biking, game viewing, hiking, horse riding and rock climbing.

3. Mount Longonot National Park

It is located approximately 90 kilometres from Nairobi, just close to Hell’s Gate National Park. Unique attractions at the park include the crater forest and the extinct volcano of Mount Longonot. Other major attractions include wildlife such as; buffaloes, zebras, lions, giraffes, gazelles, elands and different species of birds. One can engage in rock climbing activities, biking, camping and hiking at the park.

4. Menengai Crater

It is situated 10 kilometres north of Nakuru, off the Nyahururu- Nakuru main road. It is the second largest volcanic crater in the world, standing at about 2,490 metres high. It features beautiful caves, camping sites, nature trails, picnic spots and beautiful viewpoints. Activities to engage in at the crater include; hiking, camping, trekking, biking photography and picnicking.

5. Hyrax Hill Pre-historic site and Museum

The site is located approximately four kilometres from Nakuru town, off the Nakuru-Nairobi highway. The site depicts the lifestyle of seasonal settlement by prehistoric people, about 3,000 years old. It is also a renowned archaeological research area and a  reference point for the prehistory of East Africa. Major attractions within the prehistoric site include; an excavation site, a tortoise pit, picnic site, camping site, nature trail and viewpoints of Lake Nakuru.

6. Kigio Wildlife Conservancy

It is a community-owned wildlife conservancy located in Gilgil. It was established in 1997 and covers an area of 3,500 acres. The conservancy features over 100 indigenous plant species, different bird species, animals such as the African buffalo, common eland, waterbuck, gazelles, zebras, hyenas, leopards, hippopotamus, caracal, honey badger and the spring hare. It is a perfect place for game viewing activities.

7. Kariandusi Pre-historic Site

The site is situated on the Nakuru-Elementaita basin, about 2 kilometres to the east side of Lake Elementaita. Attractions within the site include; a campsite, nature trail, archaeological site, picnic site, bird watching, museum exhibition hall, the gorge and a monumental church building.

8. Crescent Island Game Conservancy

It is a game conservancy located in Lake Naivasha. It is home to abundant wildlife such as zebras, giraffes, hippopotamus, vervet monkeys, antelopes, gazelles, different species of birds, snakes and wildebeests, impalas and elands. It is also a perfect camping and picnic site.

9. Lake Elementaita

It is a small soda lake located near Gilgil town. Its beautiful shores are grazed by zebras, antelopes, gazelles, impalas and a variety of reptiles. Flamingos can also be found at the Lake, though not a good number like in Lake Nakuru. The Lake provides beautiful sceneries for bird watching, family walks, game viewing and camping.

10. Lake Naivasha

It is a fresh water lake found in the Great Rift Valley. It features serene surroundings and beautiful sceneries perfect for bird watching and picnic activities. Hippopotamuses can also be spotted on the shores of the lake.

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