Rift Valley town by Lake Naivasha, with boat trips, Crescent Island walks, and Hell's Gate nearby.
Naivasha is a moderately sized town about 90 km northwest of Nairobi, at the foot of the Great Rift Valley escarpment. It is the gateway to several of Kenya's most accessible natural attractions — and one of the few parts of the country where you can spend a rewarding few days without a safari vehicle.
Lake Naivasha is a large freshwater lake fringed with papyrus and fever trees, home to hippos, fish eagles, and remarkable concentrations of waterbirds. Boat trips on the lake are the main activity; Crescent Island, a private sanctuary on the eastern shore, is one of the few places in Kenya where you can walk freely among giraffe, zebra, and wildebeest. Hell's Gate National Park, south of the lake, is one of the very few Kenyan parks where you can walk and cycle — its volcanic cliffs and geothermal gorges make for a dramatic day out. Mount Longonot, a dormant stratovolcano visible from much of the valley, rewards the hike to its crater rim with panoramic Rift Valley views. For something older still, Kariandusi, a Palaeolithic site north of town, has hand axes made by Homo erectus up to 1.4 million years ago.
Naivasha sits on the main road between Nairobi and Nakuru and is easily reached by matatu or bus.
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Getting There
Naivasha is about 90 kilometres northwest of Nairobi on the A104 highway, a journey of about 1.5 to 2 hours depending on traffic leaving the city. The road climbs steeply up and then down the Rift Valley escarpment — the descent into the valley with the lake below is one of the better scenic drives in the region.
From Nairobi. Matatus and buses run frequently from Nairobi's Westlands and the 46 bus stage in the city centre to Naivasha town. Journey time is 1.5–2 hours. Services to Nakuru also stop at Naivasha. The bus stage in Naivasha is in the town centre.
By car. From Nairobi take the Nairobi–Nakuru highway (A104) northwest. The road is in generally good condition. Naivasha town is well-signposted.
From Nakuru. Naivasha is about 55 kilometres southeast of Nakuru. Matatus run the route throughout the day; the journey takes about 1 hour.
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When to Go
Naivasha has two dry seasons and two wet seasons, following the standard Kenya highland pattern. The main dry season runs from late June through October and is the most reliable time to visit — days are clear, the escarpment roads are in good shape, and the hiking on Longonot is at its best. The short dry season from January to mid-March is also good.
The long rains (March to May) make the Longonot and Hell's Gate tracks muddy and can make the escarpment road slippery, though the lake and its birdlife are good year-round. The short rains (November to December) are generally lighter and less disruptive.
Temperatures at this altitude (around 1,890 metres at the lake) are moderate: warm days of 20–28°C and cool nights. Bring a layer for evenings and early morning lake trips.
