Fernweh: Home
    ExploreTravel GuidesPlan a tripMy tripLast visited
    de|en
    All Places & RegionsAll highlightsAbout FernwehFAQPrivacy PolicyImprint
    ExploreTravel GuidesPlan a tripMy tripLast visited
    • Neighborhoods & highlights
    • Eat & drink
    • Food culture
    • Culture
    • Nightlife
    • Getting around
    • Accommodation
    • Plan trip
    • Nearby
    Naivasha
    Kenenock / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

    Kenya

    Naivasha

    City

    Naivasha is located approximately 93 road kilometers northwest of Nairobi on the freshwater lake of the same name.

    by Felix Gillen

    1. Home
    3. Destinations
    5. Kenya
    7. Great Rift Valley
    9. Naivasha
    Naivasha is located approximately 93 road kilometers northwest of Nairobi on the freshwater lake of the same name. Hippos, over 400 bird species, and its proximity to Hell's Gate and Mount Longonot make the lake a popular weekend destination and the first leg of many safaris through the Rift Valley.The town itself is a bustling agricultural center, with accommodations and restaurants primarily lining Moi South Lake Road on the southern shore.

    Sights in Naivasha

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Crescent Island
    Park

    1Crescent Island

    A small island in Lake Naivasha, accessible by boat. On a guided walking safari lasting about an hour, you'll walk among giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, waterbucks, and impalas. Operators state there are no predators here. On the boat trip, you often see hippos.
    Open in Google Maps
    Elsamere
    Museum

    2Elsamere

    The former home of Joy Adamson, author of "Born Free," on the southwest shore of the lake. In the former bedroom, a small museum displays her paintings, photos, and typewriters; the entrance fee includes tea and cake on the lawn, often in the company of Guerezas.
    Open in Google Maps

    Restaurants in Naivasha

    1

    Ranch House Bistro

    Restaurant on the southwest side of the lake, which Lonely Planet lists as the top spot on the lakeside. Known for wood-fired pizza and burgers.
    Show on Google Maps
    2

    Lake Naivasha Country Club

    Hotel on the south shore, whose garden is considered a classic spot for a lakeside lunch. The Tavern Bar serves local beer, international spirits, and small dishes.
    Show on Google Maps
    3

    Fisherman's Camp

    Camp on the south shore, its restaurant popular for fresh fish lunch with lake views, also as a stop after Hell's Gate.
    Show on Google Maps

    Food and Drink at Lake Naivasha

    By the lake, relaxed lodge and farm cuisine dominates; in the city, simple Kenyan dishes.

    Nyama Choma

    Grilled meat, the classic Kenyan barbecue experience.

    Fish from the lake

    Fresh fish on the menu at the lakeside restaurants and camps along South Lake Road.

    Ugali and Sukuma Wiki

    Firm corn porridge with steamed collard greens, the everyday Kenyan meal you'll find in simple city eateries.

    Chai

    Black tea brewed with milk and sugar, served everywhere for breakfast and in the afternoon. At Elsamere, tea on the lawn is part of the visit.

    Culture and History

    A Name from the MaaThe name derives from the Maasai word ɛnaɨpɔ́sha, "that which undulates," a term for large waters with wind-driven waves. Naivasha is its British pronunciation.Happy Valley and Born FreeOn the shore stands the Oserian estate, known as the "Djinn Palace," a meeting place for the notorious Happy Valley society during the interwar period. In the 1960s, Joy Adamson, author of "Born Free," lived by the lake. Her former house, Elsamere, is now a small museum.Flowers for EuropeThe most important economic sector is flower cultivation in large greenhouses around the lake. Irrigation with lake water is considered one of the region's central environmental problems.

    Nightlife

    1

    Party Island Lounge

    Lively lounge bar in Naivasha, just a few minutes' drive from Lake Naivasha Country Club on South Lake Road.
    Show on Google Maps

    Getting There and Around

    Getting ThereNaivasha is located on the Nairobi-Nakuru Highway (A104), about 93 km from Nairobi. Most travelers arrive by safari vehicle with a driver or by rental car.At the LakeThe lodges, camps, and restaurants are situated along Moi South Lake Road, between the town and the entrance to Hell's Gate National Park. Boat trips to see hippos and Crescent Island depart from several jetties on the south shore.Good to KnowThe lake's water level has risen significantly since 2010, with its surface area growing by over 50 percent by 2020. Some shore areas and paths have been altered as a result.Elsa Gate, the main entrance to Hell's Gate National Park, can be reached via a turn-off from South Lake Road, Mount Longonot southeast of the lake.

    Accommodations in Naivasha

    Find perfect stay in Naivasha

    Booking.com* (Affiliate link)
    Search Hotels
    Agoda* (Affiliate link)
    Search Hotels
    Airbnb
    Vacation Rentals

    * Affiliate link: if you book through it, we earn a small commission. The price stays the same for you.

    Plan your trip to Naivasha

    Save places, build a route and plan your city trip, all in one place.

    1. 1
      Sunrise over alpine peaks and a sea of clouds
      1234

      Round trip

      12 days · 4 stops

      Saved

      Pick a route

      Pick a ready-made one or save places and plan your own.

      Open bookmarks
    2. 2

      Trip to Naivasha

      Live
      • 1Crescent Island3 days
      • 2Elsamere4 days
      Budget

      Plan your trip

      The planner sorts stops, days and budget. Plan together in real time.

      Start trip planning
    3. 3
      9:41 No signal
      Naivasha
      Available offline

      Use it on the road

      Download the guide to your phone and use it on site, even offline.

    Nearby

    Great Rift Valley

    Great Rift Valley

    Northwest and southwest of Nairobi, the land drops steeply into the East African Rift Valley: a chain of lakes, extinct volcanoes, and gorges, which you can reach from the capital in one to two hours by car. Lake Naivasha, Hell's Gate, Mount Longonot, and Lake Nakuru are situated close together here, making them ideal for a first safari leg or for hiking and cycling.Three of the soda lakes – Nakuru, Elmenteita, and Bogoria – have been part of the UNESCO World Heritage "Kenya Lake System in the Great Rift Valley" since 2011, one of the most important feeding grounds for the lesser flamingo worldwide.
    Mount Longonot National Park

    Mount Longonot National Park

    Mount Longonot is a 2,776 m high volcano southeast of Lake Naivasha, approximately 60 km northwest of Nairobi, and a classic day trip destination for hikers from Nairobi. From the park entrance, you ascend to the crater rim in about one to one and a half hours, looking into the crater and over the Rift Valley, which the volcano towers over by approximately 1,000 m.Those who circumnavigate the entire crater rim will be on the move for a total of about five to six hours from the gate.
    Hell's Gate National Park

    Hell's Gate National Park

    Hell's Gate National Park lies south of Lake Naivasha, around 90 km from Nairobi, and is one of Kenya's few parks where you can explore on foot or by bike among zebras, buffaloes, and antelopes. Red cliffs, the volcanic plugs Fischer's Tower and Central Tower, and a narrow gorge define the mere 68 km² landscape.The scenery served as inspiration for the animated film "The Lion King" (1994); among other productions, "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life" was filmed here.
    Lake Elmenteita

    Lake Elmenteita

    Lake Elmenteita is a small soda lake between Naivasha and Nakuru, about 120 km northwest of Nairobi near the Nairobi-Nakuru-Highway. The lake is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Kenyan Rift Valley Lakes, attracts large flamingo flocks depending on water levels, and is the last remaining breeding ground for pelicans in Kenya.Two-thirds of its shoreline belong to the Soysambu Conservancy, a private ranch owned by the Delamere family, featuring zebras, giraffes, and gazelles.
    Aberdare National Park

    Aberdare National Park

    The Aberdare National Park protects the highlands of the Aberdare Range between 2,000 and 4,000 meters, about 150 kilometers north of Nairobi near Nyeri. Misty mountain forest, moorland, and waterfalls such as the Karuru Falls characterize the park, which was founded in 1950.It became known for the Treetops tree lodge, where Elizabeth II became queen in 1952.

    Sources & method

    • Photos: Wikimedia Commons, Google Maps. Each photo carries its credit.
    • Place data such as addresses and ratings comes from Google Maps.
    • The content is based on web research from public, traceable sources. How the content is made · The role of AI