Best Campsites in Nakuru National Park (2026 Guide)

Camping in Lake Nakuru National Park is one of the most rewarding (and underrated) ways to experience Kenya’s Rift Valley. The park is compact, wildlife-rich, and incredibly scenic. Home to black and white rhino, Rothschild’s giraffe, buffalo, flamingos, and big cats, all within a fenced and well-managed conservation area.

Unlike staying in lodges, camping lets you sleep inside the park, wake up to game right outside your tent, and explore at your own pace. It’s also far more affordable, especially if you don’t own camping gear or are travelling with friends. From the forested campsite near Makalia Waterfall to remote, private bush camps like Rhino and Chui, Nakuru offers some of the best-value national park camping in Kenya.

1. Makalia Public Campsite (near Makalia Waterfall)

📍 View Location

If it’s your first time camping in Lake Nakuru, Makalia is almost always the right answer. It’s tucked into a forested corner of the park, close to Makalia Waterfall, and feels cool, green, and surprisingly peaceful given how popular it is.

When the rains have been good, you’ll hear the waterfall in the background while you’re cooking supper – a pretty special soundtrack for a national park campsite. It’s also one of the few campsites in the park with proper facilities (toilets, bathrooms, water), which makes life easier after a dusty day on the game drive loops.

This is the kind of campsite where you can roll in mid-afternoon, set up without stress, and still feel very much inside the park once the gates close and the light drops. Overall a great, easy spot. However, be vigilant of baboons! Make sure to cook in the provided kitchen, the campsite is also home to a sizable troop on baboons.

Type: Public Campsite

Best for: first-timers, couples, families, relaxed overlanders

Vibe: leafy, scenic, social but not rowdy

2. Rhino Private Campsite

📍 View Location

WhatsApp: +254 (0) 726 610508

Email: customerservice@kws.go.ke

Phone: +254 728 355 267; +254 728 355 207; +254 728 355 401 

Rhino Campsite is one of those places where you pitch your tent, look around, and think: “This is a proper safari.”

This is a special (private) campsite, meaning it’s just you and your group - no neighbours, no facilities, no distractions. And yes, here’s the gentle warning: there can genuinely be rhinos wandering through or near the campsite.

Nothing dramatic usually happens, but it does mean you keep your tent zipped, your head torch handy, and your midnight loo breaks very well planned. It’s all part of the fun.

If you want stories to tell afterwards – this is the place.

Type: Private

Best for: experienced campers, overlanders, people who want the real deal

Vibe: wild, raw, unforgettable

3. Kambi Ya Nyati Special Campsite

📍 View Location

WhatsApp: +254 (0) 726 610508

Email: customerservice@kws.go.ke

Phone: +254 728 355 267; +254 728 355 207; +254 728 355 401 

Kambi Nyati is one of those campsites that doesn’t try too hard, and doesn’t need to. It’s a special campsite, meaning it’s booked exclusively for your group and comes with no facilities at all, so you need to arrive fully self-sufficient. What you get in return is space, privacy, and a proper bush-camp feel.

The campsite works particularly well if you’re travelling with friends or more than one vehicle. There’s room to spread out, set up a shared fire area, and still have some breathing space. As the name suggests, buffalo (nyati) are commonly seen in the area, especially early in the morning or late afternoon, which adds to the atmosphere without making things feel overwhelming.

It’s also a great base for game drives, central enough to reach most areas of the park easily, without being close to the busier picnic stops.

Type: Private

Best for: Quiet, good views, excellent game viewing

Good to know: Bring everything water, cooking gear, lights, firewood and keep food secured, as wildlife does move through the area.

Other campsites to consider:

Reedbuck Campsite – quiet, calm, and beautifully low-key:

Reedbuck is ideal if you’re after peace and solitude. It’s tucked away from the busier routes and feels slow and spacious, especially in the mornings. Wildlife tends to drift through rather than dominate the space, making it a lovely option for relaxed camping and birdlife.

It’s a great choice for couples or small groups who want the exclusivity of a special campsite without the intensity of Rhino.

Chui Campsite – quieter corner, big atmosphere:

Chui (Swahili for leopard) is set in a less-frequented area of the park and feels wonderfully removed from the day-visitor circuit. It’s unfacilitated, private, and especially atmospheric at sunrise and sunset, when the light and sounds really come alive.

It’s a favourite with photographers and experienced campers who enjoy that slightly wild, cinematic feeling after dark.

Don’t miss the viewpoints (even if you’re camping elsewhere)

While not campsites, Baboon Cliff and the Out of Africa Viewpoint are absolutely worth building into your camping itinerary.

Baboon Cliff, in particular, offers one of the best panoramic views in the park, looking out over Lake Nakuru and the surrounding plains. It’s a popular picnic stop (with toilets and benches), best visited mid-morning or late afternoon, and pairs perfectly with a slow game drive back to camp.

Lake Nakuru National Park – Entry & vehicle rates

Park entry fees (per person, per day)

East African citizens

• Adult: KES 1,500

• Child: KES 750

  
  

Kenya residents

• Adult: KES 2,025

• Child: KES 1,050

Non-residents

• Adult: USD 90

• Child: USD 45

Other African citizens

• Adult: USD 50

• Child: USD 25

  
  

Vehicle entry fees (per vehicle, per day)

• Under 6 seats: KES 600

• 6–12 seats: KES 1,500

• 13–24 seats: KES 3,000

• 25–44 seats: KES 4,500

• 45+ seats: KES 5,000

  
  

Guided ranger / security fees (optional)

• Up to 4 hours: KES 2,000

• Over 4 hours: KES 4,000

  
  

How to pay

Payments are made via KWS eCitizen (https://kws.ecitizen.go.ke/) using M-Pesa, Visa card, RTGS, or EFT.

Good to know:

• All fees are charged per day.

• Camping fees are separate from park entry.

• Rates are set by Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and may change.

Final thought

If you’re properly equipped, special campsites in Lake Nakuru are hard to beat.

They’re cheaper than lodges, far more immersive, and let you experience the park on your own terms. Early starts, quiet evenings, and wildlife moving naturally around you.

Need a fully equipped vehicle to get there?

Most of the best campsites in Lake Nakuru National Park especially the special campsites like Kambi Nyati, Rhino, Reedbuck, and Chui have no facilities at all. You need to arrive properly set up and self-sufficient.

That’s we, Black Leopard 4x4 Hire makes things easy. Our fully equipped self-drive 4×4s come with rooftop tents, fridges, cooking gear, and everything you need to camp comfortably inside the park without owning any kit yourself.

It’s one of the simplest (and most cost-effective) ways to experience Nakuru at your own pace, especially if you’re travelling with friends or have visitors coming to Kenya.