June to March is best for general wildlife viewing
The location is little visited throughout the year
Hippos, Giraffes, Zebras
If you are a fan of spectacular scenery punctuated by herds of wildlife and gigantic flocks of pink flamingos you’ll love the Lake Naivasha area. Within the area, you can find Hell’s Gate National Park, Crescent Island and boat rides at Lake Naivasha, which are all amazing places to explore.
The lack of predators encourages animals to graze freely and they come to the Lake Naivasha area in significant numbers. Giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, hippos, eland, Thompson’s gazelles, hartebeest and more are found in and around the lake, often times strolling through campsites and along the dirt roads.
Things to do at Lake Naivasha
A Boat Ride In Lake Naivasha – Lake Naivasha is a beautiful lake full of birds and hippos. A boat trip on the lake is highly recommended. You will most likely spot hippos, herons, pelicans and dozens of other birds.
Visit Hell’s Gate National Park – Hells Gate National Park is one of the few national parks in Kenya where visitors can freely cycle in its dusty roads, hike its scenic canyons, climb its towering pillars, and more!
Visit the Crescent Island Sanctuary – A visit to the Crescent Island Sanctuary offers a rare chance to literally walk with the animals. The island sanctuary isn’t home to any predators, so you can safely trade the safari car for your own two feet as you wander alongside zebras, giraffes, and wildebeest!
Climb Mount Longonot – For the more adventurous, the opportunity to hike a dormant volcano might be too hard to resist! This relatively challenging 4-5 hour hike, cab be done in an easy day trip from either Lake Naivasha or Nairobi, the half-day Mount Longonot hike can be combined with other local activities.
Due to the relatively high altitude, the climate in Lake Naivasha Area is mild throughout the year. Daytime temperatures are pleasant in the mid to upper twenties, while it cools off at night. The main Wet season (‘long rains’) is from March to May while there is a shorter wet period (‘short rains’) peaking in November.
General weather summary in April
Feel like
Mildly cool with a gentle breeze
What to wear
Heavy cloths: rain coat and rain boots
Daylight length
12.1 hours
Chance of rain
71%
Amount
155 mm
Wind speed
18.4 kph
Humidity
98%
Sunrise
6:31 AM
Sunset
6:37 PM
C°
Temperature
F°
30
20
10
0
86
68
50
32
General weather summary in May
Feel like
Mildly cool with a gentle breeze
What to wear
Heavy cloths: rain coat and rain boots
Daylight length
12.1 hours
Chance of rain
57%
Amount
114 mm
Wind speed
18.1 kph
Humidity
99%
Sunrise
6:28 AM
Sunset
06:33 PM
C°
Temperature
F°
30
20
10
0
86
68
50
32
General weather summary in June
Feel like
Mildly cool, humid but cool
What to wear
Sweeter, rain coat and rain boots
Daylight length
12.1 hours
Chance of rain
68%
Amount
37 mm
Wind speed
14.0 kph
Humidity
99%
Sunrise
6:31 AM
Sunset
6:36 PM
C°
Temperature
F°
30
20
10
0
86
68
50
32
General weather summary in July
Feel like
Mildly cool, humid but cool
What to wear
Sweater, rain coat and rain boots
Daylight length
12.1 hours
Chance of rain
61%
Amount
23 mm
Wind speed
14.4 kph
Humidity
97%
Sunrise
6:36 AM
Sunset
6:41 PM
C°
Temperature
F°
30
20
10
0
86
68
50
32
General weather summary in August
Feel like
Mildly cool, humid but cool
What to wear
Sweater, rain coat and rain boots
Daylight length
12.1 hours
Chance of rain
55%
Amount
31 mm
Wind speed
15.3 kph
Humidity
96%
Sunrise
6:35 AM
Sunset
6:40 PM
C°
Temperature
F°
30
20
10
0
86
68
50
32
General weather summary in September
Feel like
Mildly cool with a gentle breeze
What to wear
Light cloths: T-shirts and pants
Daylight length
12.1 hours
Chance of rain
45%
Amount
27 mm
Wind speed
16.2 kph
Humidity
90%
Sunrise
6:26 AM
Sunset
6:32 PM
C°
Temperature
F°
30
20
10
0
86
68
50
32
General weather summary in October
Feel like
Mildly cool with a gentle breeze
What to wear
Light cloths: T-shirts and pants
Daylight length
12.1 hours
Chance of rain
48%
Amount
40 mm
Wind speed
19.3 kph
Humidity
92%
Sunrise
6:16 AM
Sunset
6:23 PM
C°
Temperature
F°
30
20
10
0
86
68
50
32
General weather summary in November
Feel like
Mildly cool with a gentle breeze
What to wear
T-shirt, rain coat and rain boots
Daylight length
12.2 hours
Chance of rain
67%
Amount
67 mm
Wind speed
19.5 kph
Humidity
98%
Sunrise
6:14 AM
Sunset
6:23 PM
C°
Temperature
F°
30
20
10
0
86
68
50
32
General weather summary in December
Feel like
Mildly cool with a gentle breeze
What to wear
Light cloths: T-shirts and pants
Daylight length
12.2 hours
Chance of rain
45%
Amount
60 mm
Wind speed
18.3 kph
Humidity
94%
Sunrise
6:24 AM
Sunset
6:33 PM
C°
Temperature
F°
30
20
10
0
86
68
50
32
General weather summary in January
Feel like
Mildly cool with a gentle breeze
What to wear
Light cloths: T-shirts and pants
Daylight length
12.2 hours
Chance of rain
24%
Amount
43 mm
Wind speed
11.3 mph
Humidity
78%
Sunrise
6:37 AM
Sunset
6:47 PM
C°
Temperature
F°
30
20
10
0
86
68
50
32
General weather summary in February
Feel like
Pleasantly warm with a gentle breeze
What to wear
Light cloths: T-shirts and pants
Daylight length
12.1 hours
Chance of rain
24%
Amount
43 mm
Wind speed
19.8 kph
Humidity
77%
Sunrise
6:43 AM
Sunset
6:51 PM
C°
Temperature
F°
30
20
10
0
86
68
50
32
General weather summary in March
Feel like
Pleasantly warm with a gentle breeze
What to wear
Light cloths: T-shirts and pant
Daylight length
12.1 hours
Chance of rain
42%
Amount
68 mm
Wind speed
19.4 kph
Humidity
83%
Sunrise
6:39 AM
Sunset
6:46 PM
C°
Temperature
F°
30
20
10
0
86
68
50
32
The variety and abundance of wildlife on display in the Lake Naivasha area of the Great Rift Valley is astonishing and needs to be experienced first-hand. Nearby Hell’s Gate National Park is also unique in allowing visitors to go on walking or biking excursions. If you want your African odyssey to be everything you hoped and more make sure you contact the experts at Africa Flash.
“Make your heart like a lake with a calm, still surface and great depths of kindness!”
Ken Waihenya
Mountain Climbing Guide
Lake Naivasha Featured Safari: The Lakeside Life Safari
The Lakeside Life Safari is a 1-day safari that includes biking, boating, bird watching and walking through the adjacent Hell’s Gate National Park. On this day to remember you will be picked up at your accommodation in Nairobi and driven in safety and comfort to the Lake Naivasha area. We’ll go first to Hell’s Gate where you can engage in a walking or cycling tour to get right up close to the animals.
After lunch, we take a boat ride at Lake Naivasha that will allow us to mingle with the hippos and crocodiles that call the lake home and to view the dazzling array of avifauna including fish eagles, jacanas, herons, flamingos, pelicans, kingfishers and many, many more. After the boat ride, we’ll take a walking safari at Crescent Island Game Sanctuary where you will once again have the opportunity to stroll among the zebras, giraffes and other large mammals.
And we can’t forget the bird watching, which at both Hell’s Gate and Lake Naivasha, is spectacular. The sheer variety of avifauna on display here is mind-boggling and includes the white-backed duck, red-billed duck, common quail, greater flamingo, little grebe, ring-necked dove, black cuckoo, white-browed coucal, grey crowned crane, marsh sandpiper, white stork, pink-backed pelican and hundreds more.
At the end of the day, you will be driven back to your accommodations in Nairobi where you can spend the evening comparing photos and notes regarding your incredible day-long excursion.
Bird Watching
Bicyle Riding
Walking Safaris
Boat Ride
Game Drives
We provide accommodation in areas around Lake Naivasha
Choose a category to quickly find the help you need
Lake Naivasha is located in the Great Rift Valley, in Nakuru Country, about 100 km (62 mi) northwest of Nairobi, the Kenyan capital. Covering 139 sq. km (53.6 sq. mi), the lake sits at 1884 m above sea level and is surrounded by wildlife sanctuaries and flower farms.
The dry seasons, in January-February and from June to September are the best time to visit. Conditions then are best for game viewing, boating, and other lake-related activities. During the wet seasons of April and November, birdwatching is at its best.
Naivasha can be reached both by road and air. From Nairobi, in the comfort of a FlashMc Tours vehicle, it is a two hour drive. Scheduled flights from Nairobi’s Wilson Airport land at various airstrips in the lake vicinity.
Yes. This is a popular area for tourists with a low crime rate. Visitors should be cautious and respectful around wild animals. Take standard travel precautions like not walking around alone after dark and securing valuables.
Diverse wildlife can be found around Lake Naivasha, including hippos, giraffes, buffalos, zebras, and numerous antelope species. Birdlife, particularly waterbirds occur in great numbers, with over 400 species recorded.
African fish eagles are an endangered bird species found living around the lake.
On the lakeshore there are occasional papyrus swamps. As you move away from the water you encounter grasslands and mixed woodlands. Mount Longonot and the Aberdare Range form the perfect backdrop.
FlashMc Tours can arrange various activities such as boat cruises, birdwatching, bush walks, and visits to local wildlife sanctuaries. Fishing is also popular.
Yes. If you are traveling with children, your FlashMc Tours guide will make sure they are entertained with special activities like archery or art lessons.
Yes. Whether you’re with your dedicated FlashMc Tours guide, or one of our preferred service providers, you’ll be in good hands. Guides are well-informed and love to share their knowledge of local culture and wildlife.
Yes, with distant hills creating the backdrop, the lake, wildlife and vegetation offer many photographic perspectives worth capturing.
After an early start, you might set off on a walk to view the bustling birdlife on the shore. Later, after breakfast at your lodge you could relax or join an optional activity or visit a sanctuary. A late afternoon sundowner cruise on the lake followed by dinner around a campfire rounds off the day.
There is a large variety of accommodation available, ranging from tented camps to exclusive lodges and hotels. With FlashMc Tours, you can tailor your accommodation to suit your budget and preferences.
Around Lake Naivasha there are several viewpoints, picnic sites, and tourist attractions. Most of the lodges and camps have restaurants, lounges, swimming pools, and gift shops. Some high-end lodges have fitness centers and spas.
Conservation at Lake Naivasha is multi-faceted. Work is done to protect wildlife, preserve sensitive habitats, combat erosion, safeguard water resources, and manage the lake’s ecosystem.
Visitors to the Lake Naivasha region can contribute to local conservation simply by visiting, as income generated by tourism finds its way into various conservation projects and community upliftment initiatives. This contribution can be enhanced by minimizing waste, respecting local rules and customs, donating to the various conservation bodies, and supporting eco-friendly lodges and camps.
Yes. Across the area, communities and businesses are encouraged to use green energy, conserve water, and recycle waste. Community involvement in tourism through participation and job creation further improve the long-term viability of the area as a tourist and agriculture hotspot.
Yes. Nearby Lake Oloiden has long served as a source of salt for the locals and is the site of traditional ceremonies and rituals. Lake Sonachi is important culturally and historically to the Maasai people. The lakeshore was a popular destination for colonial immigrants, with various landmarks and museums in the area.
Both tourism and agricultural concerns stimulate the local economy. The Lake is culturally significant to both the Maasai and Kikuyu people.
Yes, your FlashMc Tours guide will facilitate interactive experiences with the local Kikuyu and Maasai people of the area, providing a glimpse of life in these proud communities.
In general when on safari in Africa, it is best to pack clothing that can be layered to accommodate varying temperatures. Clothing should be lightweight, breathable, and neutral colored. Sun protection – hat, sunglasses, sunscreen – is essential. Personal medication, a first-aid kit, insect repellant, and good walking shoes are recommended. Don’t forget your camera and binoculars.
All entry fees are included when you book your tour with FlashMc Tours.
Please respect the environment and wildlife. Do not litter. Please respect the local people and their customs.
Do you have any other questions?
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Africa FlashMc Tours and Travel is a member of Kenya Association of Tour Operators (KATO), membership code: No.AS/687. KATO is one of the key tourism trade associations in Kenya, representing the interests of over 400 of the most experienced professional tour operators in Kenya. As a member, our services have been checked and are bound by the Code of Conduct to provide the highest possible quality of service to their clients. The scheme is insured to guarantee your holiday safari in the unlikely event that a bonded KATO member ceases operating.
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