Lake Naivasha & Hell's Gate

About Lake Naivasha & Hell's Gate

Lake Naivasha is a broad freshwater lake on the floor of the Rift Valley, about two hours' drive from Nairobi, ringed by papyrus and fever trees and overlooked by the cone of Mount Longonot. Just to the south, Hell's Gate National Park is a landscape of red cliffs, volcanic towers and geothermal steam where, unusually for a Kenyan park, you can walk and cycle among the animals.

On the lake, a boat takes you close to hippos and to African fish eagles swooping to snatch fish from the surface. On Crescent Island, a sanctuary without large predators, you walk among giraffes, zebras, wildebeest and waterbuck. At Hell's Gate, cycle past Fischer's Tower, a volcanic plug, while buffalo and zebras graze nearby, then follow a local guide into the narrow lower gorge, where hot springs trickle from the rock and the walls close in overhead. Fit hikers can also walk the crater rim of Mount Longonot.

Naivasha is pleasant in any month, but the dry seasons from January to March and June to October are best for cycling and walking, and the gorge may close when heavy rain threatens flash floods. The lake is a natural stop between Nairobi and the Maasai Mara and pairs easily with Lake Nakuru, making a gentle first stop for families.