Lake Naivasha in Kenya is one of the most versatile destinations in the country. You can, what Kenya is known for, go on some cool safaris but there are also plenty of sporting activities to enjoy in Lake Naivasha. We spent 5 days here and found it a fantastic destination. Below we list the things to do in Lake Naivasha and share all our tips.
Content of this blog:
The best activities in Lake Naivasha
Thus, it is an incredibly diverse destination. With that, there are plenty of fun activities in Lake Naivasha for different types of travelers. Read on quickly to check out all the things to do in Lake Naivasha.
1. Cycle among zebras in Hell’s Gate National Park
The top thing to do in Lake Naivasha? The very coolest activity: cycling among zebras, giraffes and buffalo in Hell’s Gate National Park! This is really one of the coolest things we did in Kenya.
You cycle through a beautiful environment, high rocks and beautiful nature and thus among the wild animals. Keep in mind that the sun is incredibly bright, and there are almost no shaded areas. We therefore recommend starting cycling early, so that you will be back by the hottest part of the day.
We have written down our experiences and all our tips for biking in Hells Gate National Park here. From where to rent a bike to entrance fees, hiking in Hell’s Gate National Park and much more.
2. Climb Mount Longonot
For sports enthusiasts, climbing Mount Longonot is an incredibly cool experience. This volcano lies on the edge of Lake Naivasha and it is a fantastic adventure to hike over the crater rim. If you take the long route you will walk about 14 kilometers with about 800 meters altitude. So a big hike, but a great adventure in Lake Naivasha. Read everything you need to know about climbing Mount Longonot here.
3. On self drive safari in Lake Nakuru
Have you always wanted to drive yourself on safari, among giraffes and rhinos? Then Lake Nakuru is the place to be. Lake Nakuru is an hour’s drive from Lake Naivasha and is known as a paradise for bird watchers and as a good park for rhino spotting. Lake Nakuru is a great place to go on safari and that is what we did.
We used a Nissan Micra (a mini car that almost fell apart) to tour around the national park all day and it was a fantastic adventure. At the bottom of this article we share where we rented our car in Lake Naivasha.
4. Walk among giraffes and zebras in Lake Naivasha on Crescent Island
Crescent Island is a small peninsula located on Lake Naivasha. You can only get there by boat and it is a private game reserve. You therefore pay quite a bit of entrance fee ($30 per person) to be allowed on Crescent Island. You then take a walk among the wild animals that live on the island (giraffes, zebras, hippos, wildebeest, gazelles and pelicans). You should also give the guide who accompanies you during the walk a good tip (+/- 2,000 Kes, equivalent to $17).
5. Take a boat ride on Lake Naivasha
A leisurely, relaxing boat ride on Lake Naivasha is wonderfully peaceful. You slowly lap the water while seeing many beautiful bird species on the lake. At the same time, you can also spot quite a few hippos, which also makes the boat ride exciting. You can book a boat trip at any lodge in Lake Naivasha and it often takes between 1 and 2 hours.
6. Spot hippos in Lake Naivasha
So, in addition to the many bird species, Lake Naivasha is also known for its huge number of hippos. We ‘unfortunately’ only spotted a few ourselves. We read on blogs that at Camp Carnelley’s (one of the nicest places in Lake Naivasha) the hippos come out of the water every afternoon. After inquiring at Camp Carnelley’s it turned out that this has not been the case for some time and you sometimes see them at night, but very often not.
Nevertheless, it is still good to stay alert. Especially when it is dark or dim. Hippos are incredibly dangerous and territorial animals that you don’t want to encounter on your own.
7. Special activity in Lake Naivasha: pottery making
The last activity we did in Lake Naivasha is one you probably don’t think of very quickly, but is tremendously fun, pottery! We had a delicious breakfast and coffee each morning at Coffee Hut. When we asked where the cute cups came from we got the answer, “we make them ourselves back here, you can also make some mugs yourself if you like.” Of course we didn’t say no to that.
For 2,000 Kes ($17) per person, you get to make 2 mugs. This takes about an hour and then they have to dry for a day. The next day you come back to paint the mugs and then it has to dry for at least another day. So it is wise to do this right on the first day in Lake Naivasha so you can take the mugs home painted and dry.
Accommodation in Lake Naivasha
It is important to choose your accommodation in Lake Naivasha well. This is because from Naivasha Town it is another half-hour drive to Hell’s Gate National Park and Camp Carnelley’s. There is really nothing to do in Naivasha Town, so we recommend booking your accommodation on the south side of Lake Naivasha. Preferably near Camp Carnelley’s. Unfortunately, accommodations in Lake Naivasha are fairly pricey, especially in high season. Below are our recommendations based on location and price/quality.
