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Lake Naivasha National Park: Attractions and How to get there
Set on the Rift Valley floor, 90 kilometres northwest of Nairobi, Lake Naivasha National Park is popular for its variety of wildlife and landscaped vistas. Travelers have a great deal to explore, from the deep blue freshwater lake to rich acacia forests, waterfalls, imposing towers, bottomless gorges, and the ragged edge of the volcanic Mount Longonot.
Lake Naivasha National Park is a constant gift of surprise, colour and nature’s bounty. There is plenty for everyone, like the abundant wildlife, taking a boat cruise to get close to the birdlife, hiking, biking, or taking a horse ride past zebras, giraffes, and antelopes.
Lake Naivasha National Park Highlights.
- A quick stop for travelers out of Nairobi on their way to the Masai Mara
- Superb opportunities to see large wildlife on foot.
- With a prolific birdlife, it offers excellent bird-watching opportunities.
- Opportunities for hikes in Hell’s Gate, Mount Longonot, and the Green Crater Lake
Lake Naivasha National Park at a Glance
Lake Naivasha National Park is a high-altitude freshwater lake whose sterling blue waters are home to hippos and a variety of other aquatic animals. It is situated northwest of Nairobi, outside the town of Naivasha in Nakuru County, and is part of the Great Rift Valley.
Although Lake Naivasha National Park receives no official protection, the lake supports a fair amount of indigenous wildlife. It is a beautiful spectacle of plentiful acacia trees and flower farms awash with roses and carnations. The lake serves as a life-giving watering hole for buffalo, eland, impala, and waterbuck, so expect lots of active game viewing.
Interestingly, Lake Naivasha National Park is one of the best birding destinations in Kenya, with more than 400 bird species, both endemic and migratory. It offers opportunities for the experienced to clock up 100 species before breakfast. The park is popular for its pods of hippos.
Lake Naivasha National Park is an ideal destination for travelers looking for a fresh new environment to enjoy themselves in. It offers spectacular views of the beautiful Rift Valley escarpment. You can decide to combine Lake Naivasha National Park with other destinations along the rift valley escarpment, like the closest Hell’s Gate National Park and Lake Nakuru National Park.
Things to do in Lake Naivasha National Park
1. Wildlife viewing
Wildlife viewing is the most popular activity in Lake Naivasha National Park. Visitors are rewarded with early morning or full-day game drives, which bring out the real adventure of the park. The park is home to a variety of animal species that are best spotted throughout the year, although the best time to visit is during the dry season (June to October), when there is thin vegetation. Some of the animals to spot include waterbucks, wildebeest, giraffes, and zebras, among others.
2. Exploring the Crescent Island Game Sanctuary
Crescent Island is a scenic and breath-taking sanctuary along Lake Naivasha, only accessible by boat transfer. Visitors can take an easy stroll to explore the rich birdlife and gently grazing wildlife, or enjoy a guided walk to observe pelicans and cormorants along the shore and grace their adventure with a picnic. Zebra, buffalo, giraffe, impala, gazelle, and many others are notable here.
In fact, there are more animals per acre here than in any other Kenyan safari park. The animals are free to move between the sanctuary and the mainland since the area is not fenced. A visit to the top of the hill offers a 360-degree view of the sanctuary, lake, and Hell’s Gate Park and makes for a perfect finish to your safari day.
3. Visiting Hell’s Gate National Park
A short drive away are the stunning cliffs, canyons, and otherworldly steam vents of Hell’s Gate National Park. Visitors have a wide range of activities to embark on, such as hiking and bicycling past the eland, impala, gazelle, baboon, and buffalo, among others.
The geysers and springs produce enormous columns of steam, and you may take a dip in Africa’s largest natural mineral pool. Predators are quite rare here, so the park is safe and family-friendly with its many guided trails. You’ll have opportunities to view the rare bearded vulture and Verreaux’s eagle up close. If climbing is your thing, the volcanic cones of Fisher’s and Central Tower are fun and accessible climbs.
4. Crater Lake Game Sanctuary
True to its name, Crater Lake is a small but stunning jade-coloured volcanic lake. From its centre, the sanctuary extends along many hiking trails, including one along the crater rim. There are over 20 scenic vistas along this impressive crater walk. You will see a variety of birds and larger animal species like giraffes, zebras, elusive leopards, and aardvarks. Small groves of acacia trees are scattered throughout the park, adding to its ethereal atmosphere.
5. Mount Longonot National Park
Mount Longonot, at an elevation of 2776 m (9107 ft.), is an extinct volcano that last erupted in the 1860s. The park was created to protect the volcano and its environs. The name ‘Longonot’ is derived from the Maasai term Olo Nongot, which means ‘Mountain of Many Summits.’ Enjoy fabulous views along the way as you climb the volcano. You may choose to hike to the crater rim on a 3.1 km (1.9 mi) trail that takes approximately 2 hours and starts at the park entrance.
You can hike around the crater, although there is a 7.2 km (4.5 m) loop that will challenge your hiking ability. Upon making the ascent to the crater’s rim, you’ll be rewarded with breathtaking views of the 3 km (1.8 m) wide crater and a forest covering the crater floor.
There is still some geothermal activity occurring on this volcano, so you can look out for small steam vents along the crater walls. This remarkable habitat is home to a varied range of animals, including giraffe, gazelle, zebra, buffalo, and hartebeest. Leopards are sighted occasionally here. Looking beyond the crater will reward you with breath-taking views of the Rift Valley and Lake Naivasha.
6. Bird watching
Lake Naivasha National Park is one of the best birding havens and protected areas on Kenya safaris. The park is home to over 400 bird species, which can be spotted along swampy areas and on acacia trees. Some of the birds sighted here include herons, flamingos, fish eagles, doves, marabou storks, and kingfishers, among others.
Best Time to Visit Lake Naivasha National Park
The best time to visit Lake Naivasha National Park is between June and October, when there is virtually no rain or summer, which means it’s easier to spot wildlife because of the thin vegetation. However, Lake Naivasha National Park is a destination travelers can visit all year round.
March to May is the wet season, which means more thundershowers but also fewer crowds and low-season discounts. Short, heavy downpours characterize the wet season, which can be hot and humid. Overall, Lake Naivasha enjoys a moderate climate without too much range in temperature.
How to Get to Lake Naivasha National Park
Lake Naivasha National Park is only a short trip and easily accessible from Nairobi, the capital. The 98-kilometer road trip takes around 2.5 hours along the Old Naivasha Road and the C88.
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