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Rift Valley, KenyaField Guide

Lake Naivasha

A freshwater Rift Valley lake with hippo, exceptional birdlife and walking safaris on Crescent Island.

Lake Naivasha
Region
Rift Valley, Kenya
Best time
Year-round
Wildlife
Hippo, fish eagles, over 400 bird species
Safaris here
3 itineraries

Lake Naivasha is a freshwater lake in the Rift Valley, ringed by acacia woodland and papyrus, and it makes a restful counterpoint to the drier game parks. Boat trips take you among pods of hippo and beneath fish eagles, and the birdlife here is among the richest in Kenya.

Crescent Island, a peninsula on the eastern shore, has no large predators, which means you can walk among zebra, giraffe, waterbuck and eland on foot. Hell’s Gate National Park lies just to the south, where cycling and gorge walks are possible. Naivasha usually sits between the Maasai Mara and the northern circuit on a longer itinerary.

Photographs

Lake Naivasha
Lake Naivasha
Lake Naivasha
Lake Naivasha

Safari Packages

Trips that visit Lake Naivasha

Each is a fully costed starting point, and every one can be reshaped around your dates, pace and budget.