Fernweh: Home
    ExploreTravel GuidesPlan a tripMy tripLast visited
    de|en
    All Places & RegionsAll highlightsAbout FernwehFAQPrivacy PolicyImprint
    ExploreTravel GuidesPlan a tripMy tripLast visited
    Hell's Gate National Park
    Nao Iizuka from Tokyo, Japan / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0

    Kenya

    Hell's Gate National Park

    Point of Interest

    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.

    by Felix Gillen

    1. Home
    3. Destinations
    5. Kenya
    7. Great Rift Valley
    9. 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.

    Sights in Hell's Gate National Park

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Fischer's Tower
    Attraction

    1Fischer's Tower

    Volcanic plug near Elsa Gate, named after the German explorer Gustav Fischer, who reached the gorge in 1882. Together with Central Tower, it is one of the two striking rock formations of solidified magma in the park.
    Open in Google Maps
    Central Tower
    Attraction

    2Central Tower

    The second large volcanic vent in the red-colored Hell's Gate Gorge. From here, a narrower gorge stretches south, a path leads down to hot springs. Only enter the gorge with a KWS-approved guide.
    Open in Google Maps
    Olkaria Geothermal Spa
    Attraction

    3Olkaria Geothermal Spa

    Thermal spa at the park's edge, fed by Olkaria's geothermal field, site of Africa's first geothermal power plant, opened in 1981.
    Open in Google Maps

    Restaurants in Hell's Gate National Park

    1

    Kijiko

    Restaurant located on the grounds of Sanctuary Farm on Moi South Lake Road, just a few minutes' drive from Hell's Gate National Park. Travellers particularly recommend it for lunch after a bike tour; breakfast and dinner are also served.
    Show on Google Maps
    2

    Camp Carnelley's

    Lakeside camp with a bar and restaurant on Moi South Lake Road, close to the entrance of Hell's Gate National Park. A popular stop for lunch or dinner after visiting the park.
    Show on Google Maps

    The History and The Geology

    Named by ExplorersThe gorge was named in 1883 by the rival expeditions of the German Gustav Fischer and the Briton Joseph Thomson. It refers to a narrow gap in the cliffs, once an inlet to a prehistoric lake. Fischer's Tower bears the name of the German explorer. The national park has existed since 1984.Geothermal Power from OlkariaThe Olkaria geothermal power plants are situated within and around the park. Olkaria I went online in 1981 as the first power plant of its kind in Africa. Consequently, steam clouds and pipelines are part of the landscape.WildlifeIn addition to zebras, buffaloes, eland, hartebeest, and Thomson's gazelles, klipspringers and baboons also live here. Over 100 bird species have been recorded, including vultures and Verreaux's eagles.

    Practical Advice

    Getting There and EntranceThe park is located south of Lake Naivasha; its main entrance, Elsa Gate, is accessed via Moi South Lake Road. Hiking, cycling, and camping are expressly permitted, making Hell's Gate one of only two national parks in Kenya offering this freedom.AdmissionPayment is cashless via the eCitizen portal of the Kenya Wildlife Service.As of October 1, 2025, non-resident adults pay $50 USD per person per 24 hours, according to KWS rates. Check the current rates before your visit.Safety in the GorgeThe gorge is prone to flash floods from rain, even distant: visitors died in 2012 and 2019. After the 2019 tragedy, KWS closed the gorge for the rest of the rainy season. Enter only with a KWS-approved guide and follow their instructions. For current advice, see the UK FCDO travel advice (gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice).

    Accommodations in Hell's Gate National Park

    Find perfect stay in Hell's Gate National Park

    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.

    Nearby

    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.
    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.
    Naivasha

    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.
    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.
    Karen

    Karen

    Karen is a green, sprawling suburb in the southwest of Nairobi, at the foot of the Ngong Hills. Here, in close proximity, are three Nairobi-day classics: the Karen Blixen Farmhouse, the Giraffe Centre, and the Kazuri Bead Workshop.Large plots, many trees, and sparse development characterize the district, complemented by garden restaurants and shopping centers like The Hub.

    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