Lake Naivasha, a freshwater lake in the Rift Valley at about 1,900 m, is the easiest stop after Nairobi. People come for a boat trip among hippos and waterbirds, then to walk among giraffes and zebras on Crescent Island. The lake is lined with flower farms and lakeside campsites; it can be done in half a day, or a full day combined with Hell's Gate.
Highlights
The boat trip
Motorboats leave from several jetties (Fisherman's Camp, the lake hotels) and pass close to hippos, pelicans and fish eagles. Keep your distance: hippos are dangerous.
The hippos
They come out in the evening to graze on the shore; you can also see them in the water by the reed beds during the day.
Crescent Island
A wildlife sanctuary reached by boat, where you walk among giraffes, zebras, wildebeest and impalas; there are no large predators. The entry fee is paid separately from the boat trip.
Elsamere
The former home of Joy Adamson, author of Born Free, now a conservation centre serving afternoon tea; check the visiting hours.
Practical info
Tips
- Ask the price of the boat and of Crescent Island entry before you set off, as rates vary by jetty; no single official source publishes them, and the figures we found (around US$40–70 per boat for 4 or 5 people, and about US$30 per adult for the island) need to be confirmed. Ignore touts at the edge of town. See also Hell's Gate, about 20 km away, the Rift Valley and the 10-day itinerary.
How to get there
Naivasha is about 90 km from Nairobi, 1.5 to 2.5 hours by road; the jetties are on the lake side, south of town. There is no practical public transport to the jetties: arrange a driver or a taxi.
Opening hours
Our guides that feature it
Nearby
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