HELL’S GATE NATIONAL PARK
This national park is located in the southern part of Kenya just northwest of Nairobi. This national park has an area of 26.35 square miles about 65.25kilometers. This national park boarders Lake Nakuru National Park
From Nairobi, its only 90kilometersand the main attractions here include, red walled cliffs travel along the gorge and feature two volcanic rock formations known as Fischer’s Tower and Central Tower.
A smaller gorge leads you to the Central Tower and then to the Hot springs. From there, two extinct volcanoes called exist known as, Olkaria, Hobley’s at the park borders
This national park has predator animal species of which include, lions, leopards, Hyenas, Cheetahs. Other wildlife includes, zebras, elands, buffalo, hartebeest, Klipspringers, reedbuck, hyraxes and many others.
This park recorded over 100 bird species of which include, Verreaux’s eagle, vultures, lammergeyer vultures, augur buzzard among others
This national park has culture groups of people like the Maasai of which have the Maasai cultural center where visitors can learn the Maasai tribe customs norms and traditions. This place offers excellent opportunity to people interested in culture.
This park served as the inspiration for the Disney movie, Lion King as well as Lara Craft the tomb rider, the cradle of life.
The national park was opened up in 1884 and is one of the most visited parks in Kenya. This national park is one of the two only national parks where walking and cycling safaris can be done even without guides
This national park also has the 7th largest geothermal energy plants whole world
Things to Do
Game viewing.
This national park has a variety of animals like Lions, zebras, giraffes, African buffalos, antelopes, warthogs and many others. The game drive is done mainly in the early morning where the animals are more active looking for eats and the evening drive conducted in evening when the animal have left their hiding places for the night hunt.
Bird watching
Hell’s gate national park is one of the key areas where bird watching is supported. The park recorded over 100 bird species of which include, Sharpe’s Claw, Shelly’s rufous sparrow, white –crested turaco, northern –white crowned shrike, some of the migrant birds that come to this park include, the European-bee eater, common buzzard, winchat, Siberian stonechat, isabelline Wheatear. On a lucky day over 100 bird species can be viewed.
Swimming
A visit to the geothermal health spa is a much- needed one and truly after strenuous day adventuring in the park. The spa has three cascade lagoons, the first one acting as the receiving pond for hot brine of 90 degrees gathered from different wells in the geothermal field. The second lagoon is an overflow from the first, designed in an aesthetic manner and has both shallow and deep ends. It’s a little bit cooler than the first with a temperature of about 50 degrees. The third lagoon is the largest of all containing warm water and can accommodate over 3050 people. There is an extension of a kids’ pool where you children can enjoy warm bath
Rock climbing
Climbers can go until the pointy rock formation called Fischer’s tower of about 75feets, 25 meters named after a German explore Dr. Gustav Fischer who had been sent to find a direct route to Lake Victoria from Mombasa. This place is place is for low level climbers or the starters. The second rock formation is locally referred to as Embarta in the Maasai language is much larger than the first one and only experienced climbers are advised to scale it
Bicycle riding
This activity is the only done in two national parks in Kenya are supported and purely safe. The trails are not for predators like zebras, giraffes, antelopes, baboons and many herbivores. This activity is done any time though if you want to view the game in the journey you either move morning or evening. The bicycle is hired at the gate of the park.
Also other activities like nature walks is also supported
Acommodations
Some of the accommodation facilities include, Lake Naivasha Sopa Lodge, Naivasha Kongoni, Elsamere lodge Simba lodge and others offering the best services a person would not regret
How to Get there
By road, visitors coming to Hells Gate National Park take the Nairobi Naivasha road about 90km to the main gate of Hell’s National Park.