The road to my heart is painted with paw prints🐾, but again, Lake Life!
To some it’s just water, to me it’s where I relax and remind myself that I am doing all I can and everything is going to turn out just fine. If there is magic in this world, it is contained in water.
Speaking of water, it’s funny how drinking 8 cups of water a day seems like it’s impossible but 8 beers and 6 shots in 3 hours go down like a chubby kid on a see-saw😂😂. Well, some people drink water to surprise their liver. I am some people😊.
I haven’t been everywhere but it’s definitely on my to-do list. Like I always say, you keep me safe, I keep you wild!
Lake Naivasha is a freshwater lake. The name derives from the local Maasai name Nai’posha meaning “rough water” because of the sudden storms that can arise. The British later misspelled as Naivasha.
All that sun shines on is beautiful as long as it is wild.
The lake was used as a landing place for flying boats on the Imperial Airways passenger and mail route from Southampton in Britain to South Africa. It linked Kisumu and Nairobi.
Lake Naivasha is home to a variety of types of wildlife including over 400 different species of bird, making it a perfect bird-watchers paradise and a sizable population of hippos.
Giraffes & zebras wander among the acacia, buffalos wallow in the swamps, and Colobus monkeys call from the treetops while the Lake’s large hippo population sleeps the day out in the shallows.
Being close and a few hours drive from the city, Lake Naivasha makes a popular weekend destination for local city dwellers.
Much of the lake is surrounded by forests of the yellow barked Acacia Xanthophlea, known as the yellow fever tree. There are two smaller lakes in the vicinity of Lake Naivasha:
- Lake Oloiden and
- Lake Sonachi (a green crater lake).
The Crater Lake Game Sanctuary lies nearby, while the lakeshore is known for its population of European immigrants and settlers.
We didn’t realize we were making memories😍, we just knew we were having fun.
The most popular attraction at Lake Naivasha is undoubtedly the chance to take a guided boat safari out onto the water. Easily combined with the boat safari is a visit to the Crescent Island Sanctuary which offers a rare chance to literally walk with the animals.
One of Kenya’s most naturally beautiful parks, Hell’s gate isn’t as intimidating as its name might suggest, with its volcanic landscape, Hell’s Gate might put you in mind of paying a visit to another planet.
The lake and mountains have become my landscape, my real world.
How to get to Lake Naivasha:
Lake Naivasha is approximately 95km, a 2hrs drive (Private Transport) from Nairobi depending on where you are accessing the lake from.
While using public transport means, a matatu from Nairobi CBD to Naivasha takes around 2-3 hours and costs between 300-400 Kenyan shillings (USD 3 – 4) depending on the season.
The lake has a public beach that can be accessed freely by the locals and the public. The lake can also be accessed from a nearby hotel, which most visitors opt for.
Facts about Lake Naivasha:
- Lake Naivasha is a freshwater lake in Kenya, which lies northwest of Nairobi, outside the town of Naivasha in Nakuru County.
- It’s the only fresh water lake in the Kenyan Rift
- It’s name was derived from a local Maasai name “Nai’posha” meaning “Rough Water” because of the sudden storms that can arise. The British later misspelled it as “Naivasha“
- It is part of the Great Rift Valley
- It was designated as world heritage site (RAMSAR Site) on 10th April 1995
- The lake is managed by the local property owners under the Lake Naivasha Riparian Association formed in 1934
- Lake Naivasha is at the highest elevation of the Kenyan Rift valley at 1,884 metres (6,181 ft)
- It has an island in the middle called Crescent Island
- The lake is 13 kilometres in length, and relatively shallow, at a depth of just six metres (6m) but it is largely dependent on rainfall and the dimensions of the lake can therefore vary according to climate changes.
- It has a surface area of 139km2, surrounded by a swamp an area of 64 km2
- In the morning the lake is usually calmer, with afternoon winds often creating higher waves
- It is home to a variety of wildlife including over 400 different species of bird (such as the ibis, the kingfisher, the pelican and the fish eagle) and a huge population of hippopotamus.
- There are two smaller lakes near Lake Naivasha; LAKE OLOIDEN, a volcanic crate lake found at the south of the lake) and LAKE SONACHI, which is a green crater lake
- Tourism is also a major sector in the lake and it’s catchment basin
- A population of over 250,000 people lives around the lake. This high population has encroached wetlands and converted them into agricultural lands, residential areas, and tourist hotel.
Entry & Boat Ride Fees:
Basically, you take a leisurely boat ride for around 90mins during which you see dozens of hippos wallowing in the water. You will also see giraffes, wildebeests, and many different types of birds on Crescent Island.
Visitors can hire local boats, for a boat ride in the lake. Prices vary from one operator to another, and an operator should charge for the whole boat (maximum 7 pax), and not per person, for between USD 20 – USD 40 per boat
Accommodation in Lake Naivasha:
There are plenty of hotels, lodges, resorts, tented camps, and campsites around the lake giving visitors a variety of options to choose from; ranging from budget, mid-luxury to luxury accommodation facilities.
What’s that one Lake Naivasha experience that you are fond of? Let us know in the comments section
Activities to do and places to visit while in Lake Naivasha
- Do a 60-90 minutes Boat Ride in the lake
- Fish eating at local shore joints
- Visit Naivasha’s best-kept secret Crescent Island Game Sanctuary
- Bird watching as you boat ride in the lake
- Hippos watching during a boat ride
- Camping along the shore of Lake Naivasha
- Visit Dodo’s Tower: is an 8-floor tower rated as 1 of the top retreats in the world. Enjoy breathtaking views over Oloidien Bay and follow at eagle-eye level the movements of the hippos, giraffe and zebra grazing at the foot of the Tower – a magical symphony of peace and tranquility, broken only by the extraordinary birdsong and splashing of water as hippos venture out under the cover of darkness.
- Visit the Hippo Point: An exclusive private wildlife conservancy sitting on an isthmus between Lake Naivasha and Lake Oloiden. It aims to be a slow safari, a place where visitors relax and coommuni with nature. the sancturay includes a welness retreat and offers a selection of activities
You might be interested in:
- 3 Days 2 Nights Birthday/Anniversary Adventure in Naivasha
- Crescent Island Day Trip
- 8 Activities to do in Naivasha
- CRESCENT ISLAND: Naivasha Best-Kept Secret
- HELL’S GATE NATIONAL PARK: A walk on the wild side
@s.h.i_s.h.i
