Lake Naivasha has one of the healthiest hippo populations in Kenya — estimates put it at several hundred animals in the lake. They are most visible at dusk and dawn, when they haul out onto the banks to graze. A boat trip on the lake, arranged through any of the camps on the south shore, will bring you close to pods resting in the papyrus margins.
The lake's hippos are not tame — the guides know which pods tolerate proximity and steer accordingly. On a good boat trip you will also see African fish eagles, kingfishers, goliath herons, and cormorants. The bird count around Lake Naivasha regularly tops 400 species; the papyrus reed beds on the north shore are particularly good for rarer marsh species.