This section is dedicated to take away all your "I wish someone had told me that before I went!" experiences. This way, you can spend less time settling in, and more time making new friends in your chosen hostel. We share our insider knowledge of tips, tricks and important things to look out for in Nakuru.
There was a time when the East African railway connected Mombasa to Kampala, passing through Nakuru, among other Kenyan towns. Grass and trees are now sprouting up through the old rails, and the train passes through maybe once in a month, but there is still much to do in town! Nakuru is easily accessible from Nairobi via Mololine Matatu service, and also lies on a major highway connecting Kenya and Uganda, for those who would like to hitch a truck.
Lake Nakuru National Park used to be one of the landmarks of Kenya, filled with flamingos and big felines. Nowadays, however, the waters of the lake have gone up too much and the flamingos have moved out, and lions and cheetahs are not too easy to spot these days. Visiting Menengai Crater is a great half-day hiking tour from town, and you can spot a lot of birds and small animals in the area, and sometimes even see the smoke rising up from one of the craters. Prepare your hiking shoes and be careful on slippery roads during the rainy season.
Your Nakuru hostel is a great base for visiting all the sights of the town and the surrounding areas. While Nakuru has a full urban infrastructure for your convenience, such as coffee shops, good hotels and shopping centers, you can also dive into the rural life of Kenya in the suburbs of Nakuru or see the heartbreaking reality of local communities at one of the biggest dumpsites in the country that host a population of about a thousand people who live off the garbage and get by with the help of various non-governmental organizations working in town. There are also opportunities to donate your efforts and talents to the local communities.
Written by local enthusiast for Nakuru hostels
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