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Map of Lake Nakuru and Naivasha: Our Closest Camping Circuit to Nairobi

Q: Do you camp at Hell's Gate or Lake Bogoria too?

Not currently -- both are shown on the map for context since they sit close by, but our circuit runs specifically between Nakuru and Naivasha.

Q: When is the best time for Nakuru and Naivasha?

Year-round -- both lakes hold their wildlife in every season, which is part of why this circuit works well as a flexible add-on to a longer trip.

Lake Nakuru sits 163 km from Nairobi and Lake Naivasha just 90 km, which makes this Rift Valley pair the closest full camping circuit we run. This map covers both lakes, plus Hell’s Gate and Lake Bogoria nearby for context, showing exactly how close a genuine mobile camping loop can be to the capital.

Interactive map of the Nakuru and Naivasha area

Dark green is Lake Nakuru National Park, with Hell’s Gate to the south and Lake Bogoria to the north shown for wider context. The marker on Lake Naivasha sits just south of Nakuru. Tap any shape for the details.

The interactive map could not load on this connection.

You can still use the guide and tables below, or open the area on Google Maps.

Nakuru and Naivasha: the closest camping loop to Nairobi

Lake Nakuru’s park boundary protects rhino, flamingo and lion around the soda lake itself. Lake Naivasha, a short drive further south, is freshwater rather than soda, with hippo pods and walkable Crescent Island as the draw. We run this as a mobile camping loop between the two, an easy 2 to 3 night add-on rather than a standalone trip.

Lake	From Nairobi	Signature wildlife
Lake Nakuru National Park	163 km, 2.5 hr	Rhino, flamingo, lion
Lake Naivasha	90 km, 1.5-2 hr	Hippo, Crescent Island walks

Hell’s Gate and Lake Bogoria, both visible on the map, are not currently part of our circuit, but sit close enough that a longer stay in the area could reasonably combine them.

How the loop runs

Everything here is road-accessible from Nairobi, no flight required, which keeps this the simplest circuit to bolt onto the front or back of a longer Mara or Amboseli trip. Camps move between the two lakes over the course of the stay rather than basing at one fixed site for the whole loop.

Nakuru and Naivasha camping questions

What’s included in the Nakuru and Naivasha camping circuit?

A mobile camping loop between Lake Nakuru National Park and Lake Naivasha, typically 2 to 3 nights, combining rhino and flamingo viewing at Nakuru with hippo pods and Crescent Island walks at Naivasha.

Do you camp at Hell’s Gate or Lake Bogoria too?

Not currently — both are shown on the map for context since they sit close by, but our circuit runs specifically between Nakuru and Naivasha.

How far is this from Nairobi?

Lake Naivasha is 90 km and about 1.5 to 2 hours by road; Lake Nakuru is 163 km and roughly 2.5 hours. Both are fully road-accessible, no flight needed.

When is the best time for Nakuru and Naivasha?

Year-round — both lakes hold their wildlife in every season, which is part of why this circuit works well as a flexible add-on to a longer trip.

Ready to add the closest circuit to your trip?

Tell us your dates and whether you want this before or after a longer safari, and we’ll fit the loop around it.

Plan Your Nakuru and Naivasha Safari

Park and reserve boundaries © OpenStreetMap contributors, licensed under ODbL. Basemap © OpenFreeMap, © OpenMapTiles, data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Satellite imagery © Esri. Terrain tiles by Mapzen and AWS Open Data. Boundaries for Hell’s Gate National Park, Lake Bogoria National Reserve, Lake Nakuru National Park from UNEP-WCMC and IUCN (2026), Protected Planet: The World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA), Cambridge, UK. Available at protectedplanet.net.