Lake Naivasha is a freshwater lake in the Rift Valley, around two hours from Nairobi. After days in a safari vehicle it is the perfect place to get out and move: take a boat among the hippos, walk among giraffes and zebras on Crescent Island, or cycle through the gorges of nearby Hell’s Gate National Park.
Why visit Lake Naivasha
Naivasha offers activities you can’t do in the big parks: boat rides, walking among plains game and cycling past buffalo and zebra in Hell’s Gate. It breaks up the drive between Nairobi and the Masai Mara nicely.
Animals you can see
- Hippo
- Giraffe, zebra, wildebeest and waterbuck (Crescent Island)
- African fish eagle, pelicans, kingfishers and cormorants
- Colobus monkeys in the lakeside acacias
- Buffalo, zebra and klipspringer in Hell’s Gate
Best time to visit
Good all year. The dry months are best for cycling in Hell’s Gate.
How many days do you need?
We recommend 1–2 days in Lake Naivasha.
Things to do
- Boat safari among the hippos
- Walking safari on Crescent Island
- Cycling or hiking in Hell’s Gate National Park
- Bird-watching
- Optional visit to Mount Longonot or Lake Elementaita
Where to stay
Lakeside hotels, cottages and camps from simple to upmarket.
Getting there
About 2 hours by road from Nairobi.
