Hell’s Gate National Park in Naivasha is famously known due to its proximity to Kenya’s capital city, Nairobi. Its name is a description of the steep-sided valley running through the park.
Located on the floor of the Great Rift Valley, between Lake Naivasha, the Longonot, and Suswa volcanoes, the park lies Northwest of Nairobi and southwest of Lake Naivasha.
The park is known for its geographically different land formations such as the hot springs and geysers and ongoing geological processes which have led to exceptional and beautiful sceneries.
The park can be visited any time of the year but is best visited in March and June when wildlife viewing is a little more rewarding due to the little rainfall during this time of the year.
Hell’s Gate National Park is managed by Kenya Wildlife Service and can be accessed through:
- Elsa Gate, Narasha Gate, and Ol Karia gate
Movies Inspired by the Park
Olnjorowa Gorge & the Fischer Tower, the Pride Rock are Famous for several movie productions which were shot from and inspired the movie production among them;
- Tomb Raider: Cradle of Life, The Lion King
Activities to do in Hell’s Gate National Park
1. Mountain Biking/ Cycling/ Bike Tour
Cycling is a great way of connecting and interacting with nature. Enjoy a quiet long cycle in the middle of the park as you view the wildlife closely. It is safe as animals of prey are hard to come by.
- Hiring a bicycle at Hells Gate costs: @Ksh 750Entry fee per bicycle is Ksh 300. You can also bring your bicycle and only pay the per-person entry fee and the bike entry fee
2. Rock climbing
The climbing range is from 9m to 18m and is suitable for single and multi-pitch for first-timers and experienced climbers as well. If you have never engaged in this, you don’t know what fun you are missing out on the purpose of this great experience.
If you don’t have climbing gear, worry not as climbing gear can be hired at a fee for climbing the cliffs. This is done in the company of a park ranger/guide for beginners/first-time climbers at Fischer’s Tower
3. Wildlife/ Game Viewing
It is not a home for the Big Five animals or any other dangerous wildlife apart from buffalo. This factor makes the park able to involve the tourists with outdoor activities.
The wildlife found here includes: African buffalos, Maasai Giraffes, Impalas, Zebras, Elands, Hartebeest, Waterbucks, Rock Hyrax, The Grant & Thomson’s gazelles, Baboons, Klipspringer antelope and Chandler’s mountain reedbuck
4. Climb the Red cliffs
The hells gate gorge is surrounded by red cliffs which contain two volcanic plugs;
- Fischer’s tower, andThe central tower
Fischer’s Tower is located near the Elsa Gate, the main entrance to the park. The tower is attached to certain local folk stories of the Maasai community, who believe that the rock is a Maasai girl who turned into stone after turning back to her father on her way to her future husband contract to their tradition
Off of Central Tower is a smaller gorge that extends to the south, with a path that descends into hot springs that have rocks hot enough to cause burns, and sulfuric water.
5. Hiking to the Gorge
6. Walking/ Trekking to the Lower Gorge/ Olnjorowa Gorge
This involves treks in the park where visitors can see different wildlife species that are usually shy from a distance.
One of the routes that visitors use involve trekking through the lower gorge/ Olnjorowa. Attractions like hot and cold waterfalls, hot springs, and beautifully colored rock striations and formations can be experienced on this trek.
Olnjorowa is however risky to climb during the wet seasons as the rocks become slippery. A company of a guide is recommended, however, it’s not a must.
Olnjorowa Gorge is Famous for several movie productions such as Tomb Raider which were shot from and inspired the movie production.
7. Camping
An overnight stay in the park is recommended for a wonderful experience in the wild. There are a number of campsites available in the park which give campers scenic views of Mount Longonot and the Mau Escarpment.
Campsites in the Park
A special campsite with facilities like (Shelters, Toilets (pit latrines), Benches, Bathroom, and Fireplaces)
A public campsite situated 3.5km from the main (Elsa) gate, with a holding capacity of 100pax. The camp has facilities like (Shelters, Toilet, Water, Benches, Bathroom, and Fireplaces)
A public campsite situated 4km from main (Elsa) gate, with a holding capacity of 100pax offering facilities like (Shelters, Toilet, Water, Benches, Bathroom, and Fireplaces)
8. Bird Watching
Hells Gate National Park is a prolific destination of birdlife – there are over 100 species of birds in the park, including vultures, Verreaux’s Eagles, augur buzzard, and swifts.
9. Educational Tour at Olkaria Geothermal Power Station
The first geothermal installation was found in Hell’s gate. The underground heated water reaches up to 304 degrees making it one of the hottest sources in the world! It’s geothermal that generates power in Kenya.
10. Team Building in Hells Gate & Ol Karia Geothermal Spa
11. Cultural Interactions
Some Masai communities that live in the neighboring area of the park in their typical homesteads “Bomas”. They offer entertainment to tourists such as cultural dances, and one can learn more about the Maasai’s culture and traditions at the traditional Cultural Center where tourists can purchase souvenirs during the visit to the Maasai Cultural Center
12. Photography
The park’s sceneries such as the deep gorges, red-colored cliffs, rock towers, hot springs, and geysers among other attractions are one of the ways of experiencing the park thus offering great photography shots.
13. Visit the caves
Obsidian Caves are an attraction located on the Obsidian rock in the buffalo circuit. the Rock was formed due to the rapid cooling of molten lava coming into contact with water resulting in the glassy texture of the rock
14. Picnic at the Park
15. Enjoy a hot water bath at Mvuke Spa (Ol-Karia Geothermal Spa)
The geothermal spa has three cascade lagoons. The first being very hot a temperature of 90 degrees, the second having 50 degrees and the third is 35 degrees. Come and dip your body in a heated pool that will make your body relax. If you have children do not worry the third lagoon is friendly for children and it has a guide to watch over them.
NOTE: Diving is not allowed at the spa
Ol-Karia Geothermal Spa (Mvuke Spa) Entry Fees
Hells Gate Entry Fees
Accommodation in Hell’s Gate National Park
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.
An overnight stay in the park is recommended for a wonderful experience in the wild. There are a number of campsites available in the park (as outlined above) that give campers scenic views of Mount Longonot and the Mau Escarpment.
How to get to Hell’s Gate National Park
- By Road: The park is easily accessible via tarmac road from Nairobi (90kms) via Naivasha Town on the Lake Road South at a junction 5km south of Naivasha. The park can either be accessed via Elsa gate, Narasha gate or Ol Karia gateBy Air: Naivasha air strip
