Lake Nakuru is one of Kenya’s most rewarding parks to visit, and it is compact enough to do justice in a single day. Located about two hours from Nairobi in the Great Rift Valley, the park is centred on a shallow alkaline lake that has long been one of the greatest flamingo spectacles in the world. Flamingo numbers at the lake fluctuate depending on water levels and algae growth, but even when they are fewer in number, the lake and its surrounds are still packed with wildlife. Lake Nakuru is a rhino sanctuary and one of the better places in Kenya to see both black and white rhino. Lions, leopards, buffalos, giraffes, and zebras are also regularly spotted within the park. The best time to visit Lake Nakuru is during the dry seasons from June to October and January to March. The weather is most predictable, the game viewing is clearest, and the birdlife around the lake is spectacular. The park is also beautiful after the short rains when the surrounding hills turn a vivid green. Getting there is straightforward. The drive from Nairobi takes about two hours along the A104 highway, making Lake Nakuru one of the most accessible parks in Kenya. It is a popular weekend destination for Nairobi residents and a logical stop on a longer Rift Valley road trip that might also include Lake Naivasha and Hell’s Gate. Lake Nakuru is often described as a photographer’s dream, and that reputation is well earned. Whether it is the wide expanse of pink flamingos, a rhino grazing on the lake shore, or a leopard draped over a yellow-barked acacia tree, the park delivers memorable images at almost every turn.