Along The Great Rift Valley, on the Eastern side, is Lake Naivasha. The name roughly translates into ‘The place of rough waters’ from the Maasai language. Lake Naivasha is found along The Great Rift Valley and specifically in Nakuru County.
Lake Naivasha is a freshwater lake without a major outlet. It is well renowned for its ecstasy to birdwatchers and lovers of birds. The waters of the lake attract various kinds of game and wildlife, making it a game viewing bliss too.
The lake has thick patches of papyrus and is surrounded by sparse acacia trees and bushes, which provide habitat for the birds.
It is just an approximately two-hour drive from Nairobi to Lake Naivasha through the A104 road. The distance by road is about 80 kilometers. Traveling by road offers a spectacular and scenic view of the Great Rift Valley.
One could use flight charter services with prior arrangements, but most people prefer traveling by road to traveling by air.
The weather around Lake Naivasha is mainly influenced by the neighboring Aberdare Range and the Mau Forest. Therefore, these two make the area relatively cold, with temperatures ranging between 10°C minimum and 28°C maximum.
The rainy months are mostly between March–May and November/December, with an average of 680 mm annually.
Depending on the amount of rainfall and season, the size of the lake varies in width and depth.
There are two freshwater lakes along the Eastern Rift Valley, and Lake Naivasha is one of them. This is the highest Rift Valley lake, located at an altitude of 1,884 meters above sea level, covering around 139 square kilometers.
The coordinates of the lake are 0.7754° S, 36.3715° E. It is in close proximity to Naivasha town, making it a comfortable place to access and visit.
There is plenty of accommodation within Lake Naivasha and its environs. Some of the lodges include: Lake Naivasha Sawela Lodge, Chui Lodge, Loldia House, Lake Naivasha Sopa Lodge, etc.
In Kenya, visitation to tourist destinations is encouraged during the dry months, and Lake Naivasha is no exception.
It is most favorable to visit Lake Naivasha during the dry months of January–March and May–November. You can visit Lake Naivasha all year long and have a great experience, but those dry months are the most satisfactory.
Safaris around Lake Naivasha can be done during daytime or nighttime, depending on your preference.
You could also have your own personally customized safari to include your favorite activities, such as photography, birdwatching, game watching, etc.
There are Lake Naivasha Safari Packages dedicated to offering you a wholesome Lake Naivasha experience. The package includes transport from your desired point within Nairobi to Lake Naivasha. Pickups could be at your hotel or the airport. Accommodation and all fees are catered for within the package.
Other services outside the package but offered within Lake Naivasha include: hiking Mount Longonot, visiting Hell’s Gate National Park, boat riding, etc.
The lake is an attraction to a wide variety of wildlife, including the Big Two. A boat safari guarantees you a fantastic interaction with aquatic game, especially the hippos.
The best-elevated viewpoint is from Hell’s Gate National Park, which offers a wide-angle view of the lake and its environs. Also, from your accommodation balcony, wildlife can be viewed with great satisfaction.
Lake Naivasha, surrounded by acacia trees that provide habitat for most birds, is a hotspot for a wonderful birding experience. The lake hosts over 400 unique species of birds, including the Egyptian Goose, Cattle Egret, African Jacana, and a few pink flamingoes.
Aberdare National Park is part of the broader Aberdare range and was established in 1950. In size, it covers 766 square kilometers and lies on an altitude between 2000 Meters and 4000 Meters.
Amboseli- the dusty place. The renowned Amboseli National Park was established in the year 1974. It is one of the top tier parks in the country managed by the Kenya Wildlife Service. It covers around 400 square kilometers and is on an altitude of approximately 1150 meters above sea level.
In 1960 Lake Nakuru National Park was established as a bird sanctuary because of the millions of flamingoes since the Lake is the primary source of food. After a few years, the park boundaries were extended and transformed into a National Park covering 188 square kilometers. The park now boasts of its rich wildlife, the high number of rhino, and more famous flamingoes.
Meru National Park is found in Maua, East of Meru County, on the leeward side of Mount Kenya. The park is mainly covered by woodland and Savannah. It is home to the famously adopted Elsa the Lioness.
In the shadows of Nairobi, the City under the Sun is Nairobi National Park-globally, the sole National Park in a city. In 1946, Nairobi National Park was founded as the only National Park at the time.
The Ol Pejeta conservancy was formerly a beef ranch owned by Lord Delamere and later sold to Adnan Khashoggi and is currently being run by Fauna and Flora International.
Vast savannas peppered with immense herds of wildlife. Snow-capped equatorial mountains. Traditional peoples who bring soul and color to the earth. Welcome to Kenya.
Tanzania is an Eastern African country that borders Kenya and Uganda to the North. On the south side, it borders Mozambique, Malawi, and Zambia.
At the core of Central Africa lies Rwanda. Its capital is Kigali, which is the biggest city in the country and the cleanest in Africa.
Uganda is the country in the heart of Eastern Africa. Uganda is said to be the Pearl of Africa as it hosts a fantastic landscape with spectacular wildlife.
The grand Maasai Mara gets its name loosely translated as 'The Spotted' from the local Maasai language. In the year 1961, it was established as a wildlife sanctuary. It is part of the Serengeti Ecosystem, just South of it.
Samburu Game Reserve covers 165 square kilometers of almost unaltered nature in Samburu county. The establishment started out as a park that changed into a Game Reserve in 1985.
Customized African Safari Journeys
