Naivasha & its Attractions

The Naivasha Experience

Lake Naivasha
It is NOT a national park like its counterpart Lake Nakuru. It is a beautiful freshwater lake, fringed by thick papyrus. The lake is almost 13kms across, but its waters are shallow with an average depth of five meters. The lake and its surroundings are rich in natural bounty, and the fertile soils and water supply have made this one of Kenya’s prime agricultural regions. Much of the lake is surrounded by forests of the yellow barked Acacia Xanthophlea, known as the yellow fever tree.

These forests abound with bird life, and Naivasha is known as a world class birding destination. The waters of the lake draw a great range of game to these shores. Giraffes wander among the acacia, Buffalo wallow in the swamps and Colobus monkeys call from the treetops while the lake’s large hippo population sleep the day out in the shallows. The region surrounding the Lake is well worth exploring. There are two smaller lakes nearby, Oloidien, and Sonachi, a bright green crater lake. Lake Naivasha, a great destination for weekend getaways or addition to a Masai Mara Safari. Lake Naivasha is a RAMSAR site, a designation that reflects the ecological importance of the wetlands around the lake. Boat riding to view on-shore flora and fauna, for fun or to access Crescent Island are highly recommended.

Hells Gate National park
Is a spectacular and exciting park, the red cliffs and undulating expanse of grassland providing one of the few remaining places in Kenya where you can walk among herds of plains game without having to go a long way off the beaten track. Rock hyraxes and other herbivores are common. Hells Gate offers the Hellʼs Gate Gorge, a pinnacle attraction within the park which is really an awesome geology wonderview of a red walled cliff, notwithstanding the Fischerʼs Tower and the Central Tower columns offering additional highlights.

It has been a popular international filming destination. Lara Croft's Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life featuring Angelina Jolie had some scenes shot on location at Hell's Gate. Birdlife is also good: on the valley floor secretary birds and ostriches are easiest to identify, and look out for vultures, Verreaux’s eagles and augur buzzards on the higher cliffs, which also provide a nesting site for thousands of Nyanza and mottled swifts. Mervyn Carnelley Raptor Hide is a camouflaged viewing platform with a one-way window to view the many raptors in the park.

Hiking on Buffalo circuit is 4 hours while Twiga Circuit is 2 hours. A well-signposted track loops away to the south from close to the main Elsa gate, climbing up and over the hills before rejoining the main valley after 14km. En route, you’ll have some outstanding views of Mt Longonot, and there’s generally more wildlife here, including giraffes, various antelope species and the odd buffalo or two. The Buffalo Circuit would be a fairly strenuous walk or cycle, but it’s accessible by 4x4 vehicle. Close to the Elsa Gate end of the trail, a side track leads for 2km to the Obsidian Cave, interesting examples of the glassy black rock so characteristic of Rift Valley lava flows. Cycling is a popular activity here, camping and rock climbing.

Olkaria Geothermal Power Station, the rst productive geothermal installation in Africa is within Hells Gate National Park. The underground temperature of the super-heated, pressurized water reaches 304°C, making it one of the hottest sources in the world. Although the whole complex is working at full tilt, the impact on the local environment appears to be small, and it certainly doesn’t spoil the landscape. Africa's largest natural geothermal spa (Mvuke Spa) is found here. A dip into wellness; often described as "an endless bathtub”. The pool can accommodate up to 400 persons at a time.

Enashipai Spa and Resort, Naivasha A winner of both 2015 World Travel Awards as Kenya's Leading Spa Resort, 2016 in World Luxury Spa Awards winner, Corporate Travel AWards 2019 winner as Luxury Spa Resort of the Year, LTG (The Luxury Travel Guide) Spa & Wellness 2019 award winner for Africa and Middle East, Enashipai's Siyara Spa is a sensational gateway to wellness. At the Juice Bar, enjoy freshly prepared, nourishing health and detox drinks to rejuvenate and refresh as a prelude or an end to rst-class spa treatments

Oserengoni Wildlife Sanctuary
The Oserengoni Wildlife Sanctuary lies on the shores of Lake Oloidien (meaning ‘salty water’ in Maasai); a Crater Lake that was once part of the expansive Lake Naivasha, bordered by the Rift’s Mau Escarpment. All profits generated by tourism to the Sanctuary are dedicated to the conservation of this area, the wildlife it supports and the sustainability of the surrounding community. The Sanctuary has, for example, utilized these prots to reintroduce several endangered species. This park has the highest leopard sightings in Kenya.

A Visit to Elsamere
Elsamere Museum, on the shores of Lake Naivasha, depicts the life of George and Joy Adamson, and their lifelong commitment to the wildlife of Kenya. George and Joy Adamson are legendary for their work in wildlife conservation in Kenya, and are famous for their story of raising an orphaned Lion and returning it to the wilds. The story of Elsa became a famous movie, Born Free, and their home, Elsamere, is now a conservation and field study center which caters for study groups and tourists alike. Enjoy high tea in a relaxed environment