A Pleasant Safari Stay at Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge

Back in 2021, around the Christmas holidays, Mark took an epic road trip across Kenya. He covered over 2,000 kilometres, exploring several of the country’s incredible national parks and mountains. Lake Nakuru National Park was one of his stops, where he spent the day on safari before camping overnight in the park.

Fast forward to Christmas 2025, and we thought about revisiting Lake Nakuru National Park, as I had never been there before. However, I’ll be honest, the idea of camping in a wildlife park filled with lions, leopards, and rhinos didn’t exactly thrill me. I was relieved when Mark told me he had booked us a two-night stay at Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge instead.

Getting to Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge

Lake Nakuru National Park is situated approximately 165 kilometres northwest of Nairobi, making it an ideal destination for a weekend getaway. Our drive from the city took roughly three hours and was pleasantly scenic, with beautiful views of the Rift Valley and Mount Longonot along the way.

After arriving at the Nderit Gate and paying the entrance fees, we continued for an hour-long drive on dirt roads through the park to reach the lodge.

Along the way, we passed a small airstrip located about 15 minutes from the lodge. For travellers short on time or those who prefer to fly, there are a few charter companies that operate flights from Wilson Airport in Nairobi, with the journey taking approximately 30 minutes.

By the time we arrived, it was already lunchtime. After completing the check-in process, we were ushered into the dining area to enjoy a meal before heading to our room. Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner as part of its nightly rates.

This should not be confused with an all-inclusive package, as all drinks, except tea and coffee, are charged separately. Lunch was served buffet-style and was decent overall – not outstanding, but satisfying enough.

Room Overview

After lunch, a member of staff led us to our room, which was located on the upper side of the lodge and within comfortable walking distance from the reception and dining area.

The room itself was quite spacious, with twin beds. At first, we thought we had been assigned the wrong room type, but the staff member explained that all the rooms share this layout.

The highlight of the room was the large windows, which framed spectacular views of Lake Nakuru and the park beyond, complemented by a generously sized balcony.

We decided to spend our first evening unwinding at the lodge rather than heading out for an evening safari, enjoying a relaxed sundowner and taking in uninterrupted views of the lake from the comfort of our room and balcony.

We also spent some time exploring the lodge’s facilities, including the swimming pool, which overlooks Lake Nakuru. Because we visited during the holiday period, there was a live DJ by the pool and a few kid-friendly activities, including a bouncy castle.

While this is not exactly what one expects from a classic bush experience, it was not overly rowdy or disruptive. Still, it is worth noting for anyone considering a stay during peak holiday periods.

I did attempt to use the pool, but the water was extremely cold. Refreshing, yes, but I could not stay in for long. Later in the evening, we headed back for dinner, which, like lunch, was served buffet-style. The meal was decent but not outstanding.

Overall, the food throughout our stay fell slightly short. For the lodge’s price point, a few small improvements could easily elevate the dining experience. That said, our overall experience at the lodge was still positive.

After dinner, we returned to the room for the night, but sleep did not come easily. The room felt quite warm and, with no air conditioning, even requesting an extra fan did little to help. I spent most of the night tossing and turning.

The second night, however, was much better. We figured out a setup that worked by using both fans, keeping the window and door open with the insect net in place, and sleeping without the thick mosquito nets.

Game Drives at Lake Nakuru National Park

The next morning, we set out before sunrise for our game drive within the park. Lake Nakuru National Park is best known for the millions of flamingos that blanket the lake during the right season, but due to high water levels, these impressive numbers were not present during our visit.

While I did not expect to see large flocks of flamingos, I was still hopeful about spotting other wildlife. The park is an important sanctuary for rare and threatened species, including Rothschild’s giraffes and both black and white rhinos. It is also home to tree-climbing lions and leopards, and I was especially hoping to catch sight of one of these big cats.

Luck was not entirely on our side during our game drives. We went on two early-morning safaris and one in the late afternoon, but did not spot any big cats.

That said, we were still rewarded with some incredible wildlife sightings, including a family of rhinos, black-backed jackals, dik-diks, several towers of giraffes, large herds of buffaloes, waterbucks, gazelles, impalas, elands, and a wide variety of bird species.

It had been a while since I last had a memorable big cat sighting on safari, and given the relatively compact size of the park, I had high hopes of seeing one here. It was hard to shake off the disappointment, and while another trip to the park may be on the horizon, for now, I am content admiring this photo Mark took of a pride he spotted during his previous visit to the same park.

A Quick Stop at Makalia Falls, Lake Nakuru National Park

After driving around for a while, we made our way to Makalia Falls. I have never met a waterfall I did not love, so it was no surprise that I was instantly taken by this one. December often brings sporadic rainfall, so I was glad to see a steady cascade flowing when we visited.

Between our game drives and relaxed afternoons at the lodge, time passed quickly. After two nights, we packed up, checked out of Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge, and made our way out of the park for the drive back to Nairobi.

Our Verdict on Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge

Our stay at Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge was good overall. The staff were courteous and professional, and the lake views were excellent from several vantage points. While there are areas with room for improvement, such as enhancing the food offerings, refreshing some ageing parts of the property, and improving room ventilation for warmer seasons, the lodge has a strong foundation.

With a few thoughtful updates, it has great potential to deliver an even more comfortable and memorable guest experience.

To wrap up this post, I’ll share a few tips to help you plan the perfect trip to Lake Nakuru National Park.

Best Time to Visit Lake Nakuru National Park and the Lodge

The dry season is generally the best time for wildlife viewing in Kenya, running from June to October and December to March. Flamingos are more likely to be seen during the drier months of June to September and December to February, when water levels are more stable. However, their presence depends on food availability and water levels.

During our December visit, we experienced hot and dusty days, with cooler mornings and evenings, and noticed a sparse flamingo population.

Practical Information and Tips

A Note on Additional Fees: Remember that staying at Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodge means you’ll need to pay park entrance fees for each day of your stay – even if you don’t intend to go on any game drives. These fees are separate from your accommodation costs. See the entrance fee details in the FAQ section.

Getting Around: Self-drives are permitted within the park. If you do not travel with your own car, the easiest option is to join a tour or arrange a safari through the lodge.

What to Pack: Don’t forget warm layers for early morning game drives. It can be surprisingly chilly before sunrise. Also bring:

• Binoculars for wildlife and bird watching
• A good camera with a zoom lens
• Sunscreen and a hat
• Insect repellent (though we didn’t have many issues with bugs)
• Comfortable, neutral-colored clothing

Finally, here are some FAQs and answers:

Frequently Asked Questions

I hope this guide helps you plan your visit! If you have any questions about the lodge or Lake Nakuru National Park, drop them in the comments below, and I’ll be happy to help!