Egerton Castle, on the outskirts of Nakuru, is a genuinely incongruous sight — a full stone castle built in an English architectural style, constructed in the 1930s by Lord Maurice Egerton, an eccentric English aristocrat and early Kenyan settler. Local legend holds he built it after a prospective bride rejected him for living in too modest a home, though the full historical accuracy of that story is debated.
Egerton went on to found Egerton University, one of Kenya's most significant agricultural universities, using much of his estate and fortune, leaving a considerably more substantial legacy than the castle's slightly eccentric backstory might suggest.
Visiting the castle
- Guided tours walk through the castle's rooms and grounds, explaining both the architecture and Egerton's personal history.
- It's an easy, quick addition to a broader Nakuru-area itinerary alongside Lake Nakuru National Park.
- The building's European architectural style stands in genuine contrast to typical colonial-era Kenyan structures.
- Approach the more colourful anecdotes about its construction with appropriate skepticism while still enjoying the story.
For a curious slice of colonial-era eccentricity easily combined with Nakuru's wildlife attractions, Egerton Castle is a worthwhile, low-effort detour.
