Lake Naivasha, which means ‘rippling water’ in a local dialect, is the largest freshwater lake along the Kenyan section of the Rift Valley. Dominated by huge umbrella-like acacia trees that surround the terracotta waters of the lake, much of Naivasha’s shores is taken up by huge farms growing cut flowers (mainly carnations and roses) for the international market.
There is plenty to do at the lake and it’s environs. Fishing is good and there are a number of watersports available, but the main attraction is the bird life, which is best observed on a boat trip on the lake. The nearby Hells Gate National Park is also good for bird watching, especially for large raptors such as Verreaux’s eagle, secretary birds, kori bustards and the rare lammergeyer or bearded vulture.
Located about 1¼ hours drive from Nairobi over the stunning Rift Valley escarpment, a couple of nights during a holiday spent by the tranquil waters of Lake Naivasha provide an ideal introduction to Kenya or, alternatively, an excellent place to relax for a night or two at the end of a safari.
Lake Naivasha is freshwater lake,
fringed by thick papyrus. The lake
is almost 13kms across, with an
average depth of five metres. Lake
area varies greatly according to
rainfall, with an average range
between 114 and 991 sq kms. At the
beginning of the 20th Century,
Naivasha completely dried up and
effectively
disappeared. The
resulting open land was farmed,
until heavy rains a few years later
caused the lake to return to
existence, swallowing up the newly
established estates.
Afternoon wind and storms can cause
the Lake to become suddenly rough
and produce high waves. For this
reason, the local Maasai christened
the lake Nai’posha meaning ''rough
water'', which was later mis-spelt
by the British as Naivasha..
Much of the lake is surrounded by
forests of the yellow barked Acacia
Xanthophlea - the yellow fever tree.
These forests abound with bird life,
and Naivasha is known as a world
class birding destination.
Giraffes wander among the acacia,
Buffalo wallow in the swamps and
Colobus monkeys call from the
treetops while the Lakes large hippo
population sleep the day out in the
shallows.
The region surrounding the Lake is
well worth exploring. There are two
more smaller lakes nearby, Oloidien,
and Sonachi, a bright green crater
lake.
Hell’s Gate National Park lies
beside the lake. This Park was named
for its pair of massive red tinged
cliffs framing a geothermically
active interior of steam vents and
bubbling springs. The park is home
to a profusion of plains game and
birdlife. Walking is permitted,
making it ideal for hiking, biking,
and rock climbing.
Sunsets are come with the haunting
call of a Fish Eagle high over the
Lake bringing the day to a perfect
end....
Get the most of everything, through the already planned and mostly requested safari plans
