Boating Among Hippos
Boat safaris glide past pods of hippos, papyrus beds and fishing birds, with the African fish eagle swooping to snatch fish from the surface.
Kenya National Parks
Lake Naivasha
Fringed by yellow-barked acacias and papyrus, watched over by the extinct volcano of Mount Longonot, Lake Naivasha is the Rift Valley at its most serene: hippos in the shallows, fish eagles overhead and giraffes grazing on the shore.
- Location
- About 95 km northwest of Nairobi
- Known For
- Hippos, birdlife & walking safaris
- Altitude
- About 1,890 m
- Best Time
- June – October, December – February
Discover Lake Naivasha
A freshwater jewel on the floor of the Great Rift Valley.
Lake Naivasha is a beautiful wildlife sanctuary on the floor of the Great Rift Valley, northwest of the capital, Nairobi. Its lake is one of only a few freshwater lakes in Kenya's Rift Valley, a rare and precious resource in a landscape otherwise dominated by alkaline soda lakes, and it supports a remarkable abundance of hippos, fish and birdlife.
The lake takes its name from the Maasai word Nai'posha, meaning rough water, because of the sudden storms that can whip up its surface without warning. Two smaller lakes keep it company: Lake Oloidien and Lake Sonachi, the striking green crater lake set inside a volcanic cone.
Around the shores, the scenery is superb. The Rift Valley escarpments rise on either side, thick forest clothes the slopes of the crater, and Mount Longonot, an extinct volcano, dominates the southern skyline. Add vibrant wildlife, excellent birdlife and a wide choice of activities on foot, on horseback and on the water, and it is easy to see why Naivasha is a favourite stop between Nairobi and the Masai Mara.
Why Lake Naivasha
Wildlife on foot, on water and on horseback.
Few places in Kenya let you get so close to wildlife in so many different ways, all within easy reach of Nairobi.
Walking on Crescent Island
On Crescent Island you can walk freely among giraffes, zebras, wildebeest and waterbuck, an unforgettable experience with no large predators to worry about.
A Birding Hotspot
Freshwater, papyrus swamps and acacia woodland attract a huge variety of birds, from pelicans, cormorants and kingfishers to herons, jacanas and fish eagles.
Mount Longonot & Hikes
Hike to the rim of the extinct Mount Longonot volcano for sweeping views across the crater and the Rift Valley, or explore gorges and cliffs nearby.
Horseback Safaris
Ride among plains game on horseback through the acacia country around the lake, one of the most peaceful ways to experience the Rift Valley.
A Perfect Stopover
Naivasha sits on the route between Nairobi, Lake Nakuru and the Masai Mara, making it an ideal place to break a long safari journey.
Location
Where is Lake Naivasha?
Lake Naivasha lies in Nakuru County on the floor of the Great Rift Valley, roughly 95 km northwest of Nairobi. The drive takes around 1.5 to 2 hours, descending the escarpment with spectacular views over the valley floor. Lake Nakuru is about 70 km further northwest (around 1.5 hours), and the Masai Mara is roughly 4 to 5 hours away by road.
Travellers coming from Tanzania usually cross at the Namanga border: Arusha to Nairobi is about 270 km, or 5 to 6 hours including border formalities, so Naivasha is best reached after a night in Nairobi or combined with an Amboseli–Nakuru–Mara circuit. Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi is the main international gateway.
When to visit
Lake Naivasha through the seasons.
Naivasha's mild highland climate makes it pleasant all year, with the rains shaping the colours of the landscape rather than closing it off.
Long Dry Season
Clear skies, cool mornings and excellent conditions for boat trips, walking safaris on Crescent Island and hikes up Mount Longonot.
Short Rains
Brief afternoon showers green the landscape. Migratory birds from Europe and Asia arrive, making this a superb time for birders.
Short Dry Season
Warm, sunny days and lush surroundings, with good wildlife viewing and comfortable hiking weather.
Long Rains
The wettest period, with heavier showers and occasional storms on the lake. Gardens and forests are at their greenest and visitor numbers are low.
What is the best month to visit Lake Naivasha?
There is no bad month for Naivasha, but the dry seasons are best for hiking and walking safaris, while the rains bring the richest birdlife.
Warm and sunny, ideal for boat trips and walks among the plains game on Crescent Island.
Usually dry and bright, with migratory birds still present along the shoreline.
The long rains begin, bringing lush scenery and dramatic skies over the lake.
Typically the wettest month, with quiet lodges and very green surroundings.
Rains begin to ease and the papyrus beds and acacia woodland are vibrant.
The dry season returns, with cool, clear mornings perfect for hiking Mount Longonot.
Cool and dry, an excellent month to combine Naivasha with the Masai Mara migration.
Busy and beautiful, with ideal conditions for boating, cycling and walking safaris.
Dry, pleasant weather and good visibility across the lake and the Rift Valley.
Warm and settled, with fewer visitors before the short rains arrive.
Short rains freshen the landscape and migrant birds begin to arrive in numbers.
Green and lively, with rich birdlife and a festive atmosphere at lakeside lodges.
Explore the area
Discover the faces of Lake Naivasha.
Around the lake lie islands, crater lakes, volcanoes and historic homes, each offering a different side of the Rift Valley.
Eastern ShoreCrescent IslandA crescent-shaped peninsula and sanctuary where you can walk among giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, waterbuck and gazelles, with plenty of birds along the water's edge.
Southern ShoreElsamereThe former lakeside home of Joy Adamson, author of Born Free, now a conservation centre where visitors can learn about her life and enjoy afternoon tea on the lawns.
SouthwestCrater Lake Game SanctuaryA private sanctuary around Lake Sonachi, the green crater lake, with forest trails, plains game, colobus monkeys and abundant birdlife.
SouthwestLake OloidenA smaller, more alkaline lake beside Naivasha that sometimes attracts flamingos and offers peaceful views away from the main shoreline.
South of the LakeMount LongonotAn extinct volcano rising to about 2,776 m, with a steep trail to the crater rim and a walk around it that rewards hikers with superb Rift Valley views.
Rift Valley EscarpmentEscarpment ViewpointsThe dramatic walls of the Rift Valley frame the lake on both sides, with viewpoints on the road from Nairobi offering breathtaking panoramas.
Wildlife
Hippos, fish eagles and plains game on the shore.
Lake Naivasha supports an array of wildlife species. A large population of hippos lives in the lake, spending the day in the water and coming ashore at night to graze. Around the shores, giraffes, zebras, buffalo, waterbuck, impalas and gazelles feed on the grassland, while black-and-white colobus monkeys live in the fever-tree forests.
Birdlife is excellent, with hundreds of species recorded around the lake and its surroundings. The African fish eagle is the signature bird, but look also for pelicans, cormorants, herons, kingfishers, lily-trotting jacanas and, in the papyrus, a host of smaller wetland birds.
11 animals to look for
Hippo
Chance of seeingVery common
Where to look: In the shallows all around the lake
Naivasha's most famous residents, best seen from a boat during the day and grazing on the shores after dark.
1 / 11
African fish eagle
Chance of seeingVery common
Where to look: Perched in fever trees along the shoreline
Its ringing call is the soundtrack of the lake, and boat trips often watch it dive to catch fish.
2 / 11
Giraffe
Chance of seeingVery common
Where to look: Crescent Island and the lakeside conservancies
Graceful Masai giraffes wander the acacia country, and can be approached on foot on Crescent Island.
3 / 11
Zebra
Chance of seeingVery common
Where to look: Crescent Island and grassy shores
Common grazers around the lake, often seen alongside wildebeest and gazelles.
4 / 11
Waterbuck
Chance of seeingVery common
Where to look: Lakeshore grassland
A robust antelope that never strays far from water, frequently seen on the shores.
5 / 11
Wildebeest
Chance of seeingCommon
Where to look: Crescent Island
Small herds graze the open grassland of Crescent Island, easily seen on a walking safari.
6 / 11
Buffalo
Chance of seeingOccasional
Where to look: Shores and surrounding conservancies
Present around the lake, so local guides take care on walks in the wider area.
7 / 11
Black-and-white colobus
Chance of seeingCommon
Where to look: Crater Lake forest and fever-tree woodland
These striking long-haired monkeys leap between the treetops around the crater lake.
8 / 11
Great white pelican
Chance of seeingCommon
Where to look: Open water and sandbanks
Flocks fish cooperatively on the lake, a wonderful sight from the boat.
9 / 11
Thomson's gazelle
Chance of seeingCommon
Where to look: Crescent Island and open grassland
Small, quick and elegant, common on the open grassy areas.
10 / 11
Flamingo
Chance of seeingOccasional
Where to look: Lake Oloidien and nearby soda lakes
Flamingos occasionally gather on the more alkaline Lake Oloidien, depending on water conditions.
11 / 11
Boating on Lake Naivasha
Glide past hippos and fishing eagles.
A boat safari is the essential Naivasha experience. Setting out across the freshwater lake, you drift past papyrus beds and hippos surfacing just metres away, while pelicans, cormorants and kingfishers fish all around. Guides often call down an African fish eagle, which swoops low to snatch a fish from the surface.
Many trips continue to Crescent Island, where you step ashore and walk freely among giraffes, zebras, wildebeest and waterbuck, an intimate encounter that few other places in Kenya can offer.
Safaris to 中文
Tours that include Lake Naivasha
Itineraries that include Lake Naivasha, usually combined with Lake Nakuru, the Masai Mara and Amboseli.
Kenya · 7 days
7-Day Kenya Classic Safari
Amboseli · Lake Naivasha · Masai Mara
Private & tailor-madePrice on requestView trip
Kenya · 8 days
8-Day Spirit of Wild Safari
Amboseli · Lake Naivasha · Masai Mara
Private & tailor-madePrice on requestView trip
Kenya · 10 days
10-Day Kenya's Grandeur Safari
Samburu National Reserve · Ol Pejeta Conservancy · Lake Nakuru · Masai Mara
Private & tailor-madePrice on requestView trip
Kenya · 11 days
11-Day Kenya Buffalo Safari: The Wild Horns of Kenya
Aberdare · Ol Pejeta Conservancy · Lake Nakuru · Masai Mara
Private & tailor-madePrice on requestView trip
Kenya · 12 days
12-Day Across Wild Kenya: Where Rhinos Roam
Ol Pejeta Conservancy · Lake Nakuru · Masai Mara · Lake Naivasha
Private & tailor-madePrice on requestView trip
Kenya · 15 days
15-Day Kenya Road Trip: The Magical Kenya Wildlife Odyssey
Samburu National Reserve · Ol Pejeta Conservancy · Lake Nakuru · Lake Naivasha
Private & tailor-madePrice on requestView trip
Tanzania & Kenya · 17 days
17-Day Kenya–Tanzania Expedition: The Great Plains Chronicle
Lake Naivasha · Lake Nakuru · Masai Mara · Amboseli
Private & tailor-madePrice on requestView trip
GipsonTravel ExpertOnline
Planning a Lake Naivasha safari?
Tell us how long you have and what you would love to see. A GIP Adventure specialist will help you combine Lake Naivasha with Lake Nakuru, the Masai Mara and the rest of Kenya, or with a Tanzania safari from Arusha.
Usually replies within minutesHeritage
The story of Lake Naivasha.
The Maasai grazed their cattle around this lake long before it appeared on any map, and its name, from Nai'posha, the rough water, is a reminder of the sudden storms they knew so well. In the colonial era the fertile, well-watered shores attracted settlers and, later, writers and filmmakers: Joy Adamson lived at Elsamere, and the lake's landscapes have appeared in classic films about Kenya.
Today Lake Naivasha is a Ramsar-listed wetland of international importance. Its freshwater supports fisheries, farms and a major flower-growing industry, which puts pressure on water levels and quality. Conservation groups, local communities and private sanctuaries work together to protect the lake, its riparian land and the wildlife that depends on it.
Is Lake Naivasha a national park?
Lake Naivasha itself is a protected freshwater wetland surrounded by private sanctuaries and conservancies, rather than a single fenced park. Hell's Gate and Mount Longonot national parks lie close by.
How far is Lake Naivasha from Nairobi?
About 95 km, or roughly 1.5 to 2 hours by road, making it one of the easiest Rift Valley destinations to reach from the capital.
Can I walk with animals at Lake Naivasha?
Yes. Crescent Island is famous for walking safaris among giraffes, zebras, wildebeest and waterbuck, accompanied by a guide.
Is it safe to swim in Lake Naivasha?
No. The lake is home to hippos and swimming is not advised. Enjoy the water from a guided boat instead.
What can I see on a boat ride?
Hippos, African fish eagles, pelicans, cormorants, kingfishers, herons and many other water birds, plus wonderful views of the Rift Valley.
How long should I spend at Lake Naivasha?
One night is enough for a boat trip and Crescent Island walk; two nights allow time for Mount Longonot, Hell's Gate or a horseback ride.
Can I combine Naivasha with the Masai Mara?
Yes. Naivasha is an ideal overnight stop on the road between Nairobi and the Masai Mara, and pairs well with Lake Nakuru.
Your safari starts here
Ready to discover Lake Naivasha?
Let GIP Adventure plan a Rift Valley journey that brings you face to face with Naivasha's hippos, giraffes and fish eagles.