HELL’S GATE

Kenya has some of the best and most visited National Parks and Reserves in the world. This is a review of some of the parks and reserves including facts, accommodation and leisure options.

HELL’S GATE NATIONAL PARK

Hell’s Gate despite the name provides an ideal venue for a trip from Nairobi; a panoramic picnic site or a camping stopover.

Situated deep on the floor of the Great Rift Valley this small national park provides a myriad of bio-diversity and is one of only two Kenyan Parks to allow walking or cycling without the company of a KWS ranger.

The scenery is truly enchanting; the glowering cliffs, water gouged gorges, stark rock towers, scrub-clad volcanoes and belching plumes of geothermal steam make it one of the most atmospheric parks in Africa.

FACTS

Altitude: 1,560 – 2, 187m above sea level

Area: 68 sq. km

Vegetation: A wide variety of Succulents

Fauna: Eland, Buffalo, Lion, Giraffe, Zebra, Leopard, Impala, Grant’s & Thomson’s gazelle, hyrax and mountain reedbuck.

Birds: More than 100 species

Special Interest: Hell’s Gate has been designated as a World Heritage and enjoys global protection as one of the most unique natural sites on earth.

How to Get There

Take route A104 from Nairobi to Naivasha and then the Moi South Lake road which leads to Lake Naivasha. 23 km from the Moi South Lake road junction to the turn-off for Elsa Gate; from the turn off, Elsa Gate is further 2 km.

The Game

Herds of Buffalo, Zebra, Eland, hartebeest, gazelle, giraffe.

Where to Stay

Although there is no accommodation in the park a lot of accommodation services are available around Naivasha town.