Lake Naivasha National Park is best described as “Sheer Adventure” for a good reason. Lake Naivasha National Park is set on the Great Rift Valley floor in Kenya and is remarkably, an iconic destination worth exploring on Kenya safari. The park is known for its enriching birding excursions and game viewing. If you are in search of a place to escape the bustling Nairobi life, then consider Lake Naivasha National Park a must-visit.
Lake Naivasha National Park is set within the scenic Lake Naivasha, the scenic freshwater Lake. The park is located in the Northwestern part of Nairobi city and forms a section of the Great Rift Valley. Lake Naivasha Park takes its name from the Maasai word “Naiposha” meaning “rough water” and this is due to its unusual sudden storms that often rise. Lake Naivasha Game Park is also surrounded by other small lakes including Lake Oloidien and Lake Sonachi (also known as the Green Crater Lake).
Lake Naivasha National Park was officially established in 1995 and stretches over 140 sq. km. The park lies at an altitude of 1884 –the highest peak of the area. Some of the unique features to expect to explore on Kenya safaris include Mount Longonot, the dense forest along Crater Mountain, and Umbrella Acacia trees around the lake shores, etc.
Lake Naivasha Park is a 1.5-hour drive from the heart of Nairobi. Its accessibility makes it an ideal location to escape the bustling life in the Nairobi capital. Even a short wildlife tour of 2 days can be arranged for you to be part of the enriching experiences in and around Lake Naivasha National Park.
Key Attractions to Explore in Lake Naivasha National Park Kenya
At Lake Naivasha National Park Kenya, expect to unearth a myriad of attractions including birds, wildlife, and more. Here are some of the top attractions to expect to explore while in this protected area;
Crescent Island –On a visit to Lake Naivasha Park, one of the best places to visit is Crescent Island- the private island sanctuary lying in the Great Rift Valley area. On the island, some animals including buffaloes can be spotted freely roaming. Visitors can access the island on a boat or 4×4 drive car, especially around the dry months.
Lake Naivasha –The biggest section of Lake Naivasha Park comprises of the charming Lake Naivasha. This is a shallow Lake also seasonal and can be rough around the peak rainy months. At its banks, there exist papyrus and other species of trees where most birds and animals reside. Lake Naivasha is a great birding area where you can spot your favorite birds.
Elsamere –Comprising of stippled trees and sisal, the Elsamere makes up the forest around the Lake Naivasha shores. The lush forest consists of more species of trees including the yellow fever trees and others.
Mt. Longonot –This is an extinct volcano rising at the elevation of 2776 meters. It is believed to have had its last eruption in the 1860s. It derives its name from the Maasai word “Olo Nongot” meaning the Mountains of Many summits. It features a scenic Crater although with no water.
Crater Lake Sanctuary –At this sanctuary, visitors have a chance to explore many bird species and wildlife including zebras, giraffes, leopards, and others.
Bird species. Lake Naivasha National Park shelters over 350 species of birds. These range from different habitats. The birds of interest in this protected area include Maccoa ducks, tufted ducks, red-billed ducks, yellow-billed ducks, Northern shovelers, southern pochard, Northern pintail, helmeted Guineafowl, common quail, Coqui francolin, lesser and greater flamingos, ring-necked dove, speckled pigeon, mourning collared dove, red-eyed dove, little grebe, laughing dove, emerald-spotted wood dove, black cuckoo, red-chested cuckoo, white-browed coucal, Klaas’s cuckoos, dideric cuckoos, Eurasian nightjar, Horus swift, Nyanza swift, and common swift.
Lake Naivasha also protects birds such as lesser moorhen, African crakes, African rail, black crake, striped crake, gray crowned crane, lapwings, plovers, pied avocet, black-winged stilt, sanderling, common snipe, Terek sandpiper, curlew sandpiper, ruddy turnstone, wood sandpiper, African open bill, white stork, saddle-billed stork, African skimmers, white-winged tern, whiskered tern, Great cormorant, great white pelicans, black herons, black-crowned night heron, little egret, intermediate egret, imperial eagle, long-crested eagle, black-winged kite, Verreaux’s eagle, Augur Buzzard, Violet wood hoopoe, speckled mousebirds, common scimitar bill, Gray-headed kingfishers, Malachite kingfishers, Giant kingfishers, white-throated bee-eaters, pied kingfishers, European bee-eaters, lilac-breasted rollers, white-headed barbet, and Nubian woodpeckers.
Additional species of birds at Lake Naivasha National Park include Sooty falcons, Eurasian kestrel, lesser kestrel, sake falcon, Amur falcon, yellow-collared lovebird, Eurasian golden oriole, Sulphur-breasted bushrike, brubru Nilaus afer, Northern fiscal, red-backed shrike, isabelline shrike, cape crow, African paradise flycatcher, red-faced crombec, northern crombec, buff-bellied warblers, banded martin, plain martin, barn swallow, starlings, African gray flycatchers, brown-chested alethe, white-browed robin chat, brown-chested alethe, rufous-tailed rock thrush, sunbird, weaver birds, and more.
Wildlife –Lake Naivasha Park protects different wildlife including hippos, buffaloes, leopards, lions, zebras, and others.
Things to do in Lake Naivasha National park
Game viewing
At Lake Naivasha Park, expect to enjoy the best game viewing excursion where you get a chance to see a myriad of wildlife. A guided game viewing tour in this park gets you exposed to different wildlife such as waterbucks, giraffes, zebras, buffaloes, and others.
Birding
If you are an enthusiastic birder, then consider visiting Lake Naivasha Park to explore your favorite birds. On a birding excursion, expect to come across birds such as plovers, weaver birds, storks, eagles, kingfishers, lapwings, and more.
Horseback riding
A horseback ride offers a better alternative for visitors to explore the abundant wildlife in Lake Naivasha National Park. It is an interesting experience for honeymooners on a Kenya tour.
Hiking
Guided hikes can be done on the nearby Longonot Mountain. You can spend about 2-4 hours to explore Mount Longonot on a guided hike. At the base of this volcano, expect to encounter some of the finest wildlife including giraffes, buffaloes, zebras, and antelopes.
Boat rides
Visitors can also engage in boat rides, especially during the wet or rainy season. Boat excursions are ideal for bird watching and introduce you to the enriching shores of the lake where you can spot different bird species.
When to visit
Lake Naivasha National Park is best explored during the peak dry season when the weather conditions are favorable. The best months of the year to consider for your exploration in Lake Naivasha Park range from January to April then June to October.
Where to stay
Accommodation options to book for overnight stays in and around Lake Naivasha Park include Lake Naivasha Country Club, Great Rift Valley Lodge & Gold Resort, and Enashipai Resort & Spa. Elsamere Lodge, Malu Lodge, Chui Lodge, and more.
Getting to Lake Naivasha National Park
By road, visitors can drive for only 90 km from the heart of Nairobi’s capital. By air, take a flight from Nairobi and land at Loldia Airstrip.