Nakuru is the capital city of Nakuru County, Kenya. It is northwest of Nairobi, in the Great Rift Valley. Nearby is Lake Nakuru National Park, home to rhinos, giraffes, lions and leopards. Lake Nakuru is an algae-filled soda lake that attracts thousands of flamingos. Lookout points such as Baboon Cliff and Lion Hills offer views of the birds, the lake and mammals including warthogs and baboons.
Nakuru, town, west-central Kenya. It lies near the Mau Escarpment on the north shore of Lake Nakuru, 95 miles (153 km) northwest of Nairobi, near the heart of the Kikuyu people’s homeland. During the colonial period, Nakuru was a centre of European activity. Now one of the largest towns in Kenya, Nakuru is an important agricultural centre and the site of Egerton University (1939). It is a busy commercial and transport centre for west-central Kenya. Nearby attractions include Lake Nakuru National Park, known for its hundreds of species of birds, the Hyrax Hill prehistoric site, and the immense Menengai Crater. Pop. (1999) 219,366; (2009) 286,411.
