Naivasha & its Attractions
Highlights: Naivasha - Place of Fun & Life
Naivasha is dubbed the place of fun and life. It is arguably Kenya's leading weekend or public holiday relax destination for the local people. Naivasha offers a variety of attractions for different palates, wildlife parks, but it is more to adventure and unwind/relax genre. We highly recommend Naivasha as a stop-over destination on at the cross roads of the northern, Rift Valley floor and the south western tourism circuit
A must visit includes, Hells Gate National Park, Olkaria Geothermal Spa, Elsamere, Crescent Island and Crater Lake Game Sanctuary, Oserengoni Conservancy, Lake Naivasha and Lake Oloiden - all visits made easy with excellent world class accommodation facilities
Naivasha - Place of Fun & Life
Overview
Naivasha is only 72Kms from Nairobi and it offers a variety of attractions to suit different holiday makers. Its easy access from Nairobi and a drive adjacent to panoramic views of the Great Rift Valley landscapes is a thrill of its own. The highlight attractions of Naivasha are:
Hells Gate National Park : Hellʼs Gate National Park is located in the southern part of Kenya just northwest of Nairobi. The national park encompasses an area of 26.35 square miles (68.25 sq km). Hellʼs Gate borders up to the sister Lake Nakuru National Park. The park is only 56 miles (90 km) from Nairobi sitting at an elevation of 6,200 feet (1,900 m) above sea level. Hellʼs Gate Gorge is the main attraction and basis for the parkʼs name. Red walled clis travel along the gorge and feature two volcanic rock formations known as Fischerʼs Tower and Central Tower. A smaller gorge trails away from Central Tower and leads to an area of hot springs. The springs are hot enough to cause burns. There are two extinct volcanoes known as Olkaria and Hobleyʼs found with the park boundaries.
Other major attractions include the Olkaria Geothermal Power Station, bound to be the largest geothermal power producing station in Africa and in the world in the next 2-3 decades, Its natural geothermal spa, one of its kind in Africa, Oserengoni Conservancy, a new story of wildlife conservation, Elsamere - another great legend of great nature loving couple and the lioness Elsa who was their friend, Lake Naivasha and Lake Oloiden, Crescent Island and Crater Lake Game Sanctuary. Not far from Naivasha and considered to attraction is the beloved hiking destination - Mt. Longonot
Masai Mara Maps
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 prots 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
Brochure & Safari Ideas
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