Lakes & Highlands
A crack in the earth lined with pink.
The Great Rift Valley runs the length of Kenya, and its floor holds a string of lakes an hour or two from Nairobi: Nakuru with its rhinos and flamingos, Naivasha with hippos and boat safaris, Bogoria's hot springs, Elementaita's quiet shores and Baringo's birdlife.
- Flamingos and rhinos at Lake Nakuru
- Boat safari and hippos on Lake Naivasha
- Cycling through Hell's Gate
- Bogoria hot springs
- Easy two-day add-on from Nairobi
Rift Valley lakes: at a glance
- Best time
- Year-round. Flamingo numbers vary with water levels; June to March is driest.
- Wildlife
- Black and white rhinos and flamingos at Lake Nakuru; hippos and fish eagles on Naivasha; giraffes and zebras you can cycle past in Hell's Gate.
- Weather
- Pleasant and mild at 1,800 to 2,000 m, warmer at Baringo and Bogoria. Rains April to May and November.
- Park fees
- Lake Nakuru, Hell's Gate and Mount Longonot are national parks under the Kenya Wildlife Service. Lake Bogoria is a county reserve; Naivasha boat trips are private. We list every fee on its own line in your quote. Kenya Wildlife Service
- Safety
- Game drives are with a licensed guide and you stay inside the vehicle except at marked sites. Petty crime is the main risk in towns. U.S. State Department: Kenya
- Malaria
- Present at the lower lakes. The CDC lists malaria in all areas below about 2,500 m. Ask a travel clinic about tablets. CDC Travelers' Health: Kenya
