Nakuru's tourism and hospitality sectors are stepping up preparations for the festive season, with hotels and tourist attraction sites preparing to receive local and international visitors. The sector is optimistic about the upcoming season, with expectations of a rise in visitors. This comes after a better performance this year compared to 2025.
Lake Nakuru National Park is one of the region's major tourist attractions, home to four of the Big Five and several other wildlife species. The park's Assistant Director, Martin Omondi, said preparations include opening new road circuits to enhance tourists' wildlife-viewing experience. The new routes have opened up more areas to visitors and improved access to key wildlife attractions and scenery.
The park is also an important bird-watching area and a UNESCO heritage site. Omondi highlighted the rising water levels of the lake as a natural phenomenon that visitors should witness during the holiday. The park's upgraded facilities and services aim to provide a memorable experience for visitors.
Hospitality establishments within the park are also embracing the Christmas spirit. Sarova Lion Hill Lodge hosted its annual cake-mixing ceremony, which included marinating dozens of fruits and nuts in selected alcohols and juices. The tradition, which traces its roots to 17th-century Europe, brings together participants to mix dried fruits, nuts, and spices that are later used to prepare traditional Christmas cakes.
The cake-mixing ceremony is an important culinary tradition that brings people together while preserving the rich heritage of Christmas celebrations. Sarova Group Pastry Chef Sanjit Gupta said the ceremony marks the beginning of the festive season and creates a memorable experience for guests. The lodge manager, Samwel Mwangi, said the ceremony is a way to bring people together and create a festive atmosphere.
Sarova Hotels Nakuru Cluster Manager Duncan Mwangi said they are expecting a rise in visitors during the December holiday. He noted that they have already started seeing rising bookings ahead of the season. With the expected high occupancy, they are upgrading their rooms and other facilities to give clients the best experience.
The ongoing expansion of the Rironi-Mau Summit Highway is also expected to improve access to tourist attractions across the region. Mwangi said the upgraded highway will make Nakuru even more competitive for tourism, meetings, conferences, and exhibitions. The airstrips and upcoming superhighway will ensure fast travel for visitors.
Key points
- The Nakuru tourism sector is expecting a rise in visitors during the December holiday.
- Lake Nakuru National Park has upgraded its facilities and services to enhance tourists' wildlife-viewing experience.
- Hospitality establishments in Nakuru are preparing for the festive season with upgraded facilities and services.
