Crescent Island is a private wildlife sanctuary on a peninsula jutting into Lake Naivasha, reachable by a short boat ride from the main lakeshore. Unlike most Kenyan reserves, here you walk freely among zebras, giraffes, wildebeest, and Thomson's gazelles with no vehicle and no fence — the island has no predators, so the animals have lost most of their flight instinct around humans.
The walking is easy and the setting is beautiful, with the lake on three sides and the Aberdares visible in the distance. Hippos are often visible in the water just off the shore. An early morning visit gives the best light and the most animal activity. The island is privately managed and charges an entrance fee payable at the gate.