Hell's Gate National Park & Lake Naivasha Day Trip from Nairobi

Overview

A Hell's Gate and Lake Naivasha day trip from Nairobi is the Rift Valley in one day: a cliff-lined national park you can explore on a bicycle or on foot, and a freshwater lake full of hippos and birds. We pick you up at 07:00 and stop at the Great Rift Valley viewpoint on the way. Inside the park a private guide leads your party past Fischer's Tower and along the red cliffs among zebras, giraffes, warthogs and buffalo, bicycle hire included, before a descent into the gorge where geothermal steam hisses from the rock. In the afternoon we drive to Lake Naivasha, where an optional boat ride, paid locally, takes you among hippos and fish eagles. Transport is by air-conditioned vehicle with hotel pickup and drop-off.

Highlights

• Explore Hell's Gate National Park on a bicycle or on foot among zebras, giraffes and warthogs, with bicycle hire included
• Private guide for your party inside the park, from Fischer's Tower to the Ol Njorowa gorge
• Red volcanic cliffs, basalt columns and geothermal steam vents in the gorge
• Optional boat ride on Lake Naivasha among hippos, fish eagles and pelicans
• Great Rift Valley viewpoint stop with views of Mount Longonot on the way
• Transport by air-conditioned vehicle with hotel pickup and drop-off in Nairobi
• An active, family-friendly day of about ten hours, back in Nairobi by evening

Itinerary

1. Hotel pickup in Nairobi (07:00)We collect you from your hotel or residence in an air-conditioned vehicle and head north-west out of the city.
2. Great Rift Valley viewpoint (about 15 minutes)Photo stop on the escarpment above Mai Mahiu with Mount Longonot and the valley floor below.
3. Hell's Gate National Park by bicycle or on foot (about 2.5 hours)Meet your private guide at the Elsa gate, collect bicycles and ride past Fischer's Tower along the cliffs among zebras, giraffes and buffalo to the gorge.
4. Ol Njorowa gorge walk (about 1–1.5 hours)Descend into the gorge to the hot springs and steam vents, then return to the vehicle; lunch break at your own expense.
5. Lake Naivasha, optional boat ride (about 1 hour)Drive to the lakeshore for a boat trip among hippos and fish eagles, paid locally; Crescent Island landing if time allows.
6. Return to Nairobi (arrival about 17:00–18:00)Drive back across the Rift Valley to your hotel.

What's included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Nairobi
• Transport by air-conditioned vehicle
• Private guide inside Hell's Gate National Park
• Bicycle hire in the park
• Drive to Lake Naivasha
• Stop at the Great Rift Valley viewpoint
• Bottled water

Not suitable for

• Children under 3 years
• Guests who cannot walk on uneven, rocky ground for the gorge section

Meeting point

We pick you up at 07:00 from your hotel, apartment or residence in Nairobi; please wait in the lobby shortly before the pickup time. Drop-off is at the same address in the late afternoon or early evening, depending on traffic.

Important information

• Bring your passport; it is needed for the park ticket at the gate.
• The Hell's Gate entrance fee is not included and is paid at the gate by card; the Lake Naivasha boat ride is optional and paid in cash locally.
• Food and drinks are not included; bring a packed lunch and snacks or buy them in Naivasha town.
• Wear closed shoes with good grip, light trousers or shorts for cycling and a hat; bring sunscreen and a rain jacket in the wet months.
• The park sits at about 1,900 metres; take the cycling at an easy pace and drink plenty of water (bottled water is provided).
• The gorge may be closed after heavy rain because of flash-flood risk; your guide will follow the rangers' advice.
• Keep your distance from buffalo and from hippos on the lake; sightings of all wildlife are never guaranteed.
• Naivasha is at high altitude with low malaria risk, but use repellent on the lakeshore in the evening.