- Best time to visit: Year-round; the dry months of June to October and January to February are the most comfortable
- Getting there: About 1.5 to 2 hours by road from Nairobi
Lake Naivasha is a freshwater lake in Kenya’s Great Rift Valley, about two hours from Nairobi. It is a relaxed stop that breaks up the long drive between the capital and the Masai Mara, and it offers a very different style of wildlife viewing from a game drive.
Things to do at Lake Naivasha
- Boat rides: glide past hippos and more than 400 recorded bird species, including fish eagles, pelicans and kingfishers.
- Crescent Island: a walk among giraffe, zebra, wildebeest and impala without lions or other large predators.
- Hell’s Gate National Park: cycle or walk beneath red cliffs, with gorges, geothermal features and plains game.
- Lakeside lodges: gardens, sundowners and a quiet night before an early start.
Best time to visit
Naivasha works all year. The drier months make roads and walking easier, while the rains bring green scenery and more birds.
Combine it with
Naivasha pairs naturally with the Masai Mara and Amboseli. See our 6-Day Amboseli, Lake Naivasha & Masai Mara Safari, or ask us for a custom route.
Map
Lake Naivasha, Kenya
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