Lake Nakuru Lodge, Lake Nakuru National Park, Kenya

Location:

The lodge is located on the top of a small hill in the UNESCO World Heritage Park called Lake Nakuru National Park. Lake Nakuru National Park is situated approximately 164 kilometres from Nairobi, a two hours drive from Nairobi city. Specifically, the lodge is located approximately a 30 to 45-minute drive from the commonly used main gate. The location of the lodge is good for safaris since it's located inside the park. As far as being able to leave the lodge or explore the surrounding area on foot, it's not possible so if that's what you're after, stay somewhere in Nakuru. Furthermore, the lodge is gated in by an electric fence so there are no worries about animals coming to the lodge or you leaving the lodge.

Room Comfort:

There is a range of accommodations available from standard rooms to family rooms. We stayed in a cottage which was spacious and had a large private porch that overlooked an open grassy area where animals are seen grazing. Keep in mind that not all cottages have a nice view of the park as some have pool views while others are blocked by other cottages. Ask for a cottage overlooking the park grounds which is the best part about staying at this lodge. We were able to spot buffaloes and other animals from our porch which was a great and private experience. As for the room, the bedding was comfortable and a mosquito net was provided over the bed. Unfortunately, due to the strange lay out of the mosquito net, mosquitoes did manage to get into the bed area. Overall, the decor in the room was nice but simple. The bathroom wasn't large, but was sufficient for our needs. Security was present on the lodge grounds. Finally, we liked that the rooms were solar powered minimizing the environmental footprint on the park.

Cleanliness:

The room and bathroom were clean. The lodge lobby, restaurant and swimming pool area were also very clean. Some cottages, main bar and swimming pool could use some renovating in the very near future. The staff were dressed in clean, professional uniforms.

Service:

The service was great as is the norm in Kenya. Furthermore, the staff were very friendly, professional and courteous. Welcome drinks were provided during the smooth check-in process. Check-out was equally smooth. There is spa service, a business centre, a money exchange office and a swimming pool at the hotel.

Food:

The food was average. There was a decent selection of food, served buffet style, for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Overall Value:

Although we really enjoyed our stay at this hotel due to the views of the surrounding area, we would stay elsewhere on our next visit to Lake Nauru National Park. It was a nice place to relax and watch the animals graze at the grounds in front of our cottage in private and at our own time. We recommend this lodge and the park to those visiting Kenya as long as you are not on a tight budget and you aren't a fussy traveler. We heard complaints about the food, size of rooms and type of blankets from other travelers during our stay, none of which we found problematic, so just be aware that this place might not be perfect for everyone. The rooms cost over US$300/night for the standard rooms on full board for 2 people. This might sound like a lot, but it's comparable to other resorts inside the park.

Other Notes:

Lake Nakuru is a great park to spot black and white rhinos and flamingos, and has a large reserve of over 300 species of birds, which make it an ideal site of bird lovers.

Our Rating: 3.9/5   Year Reviewed: 2009

For more information, visit the hotel's website at: www.lakenakurulodge.com or visit Expedia.ca (Canada) or Expedia.com (USA) for the best prices on another accommodations in Nakuru, Kenya.

Photos: