Outdoor activities in Naivasha Kenya : Naivasha is a town in Nakuru county, it is 92 km by road north west of Nairobi. The town is located on the shores of Lake Naivasha one of the fresh water lake ,the other being Lake Baringo. The Maasai were the first to settle in the basin, from their migration point in the present day Sudan this was around the 15th Century later the Bantu people migrated to the basin from Central African forests. Today the most populous tribe in Naivasha is the Kikuyu. European settlers settled in Naivasha arriving in the 19th century. Naivasha is one of the best tourist destinations to tour in Kenya because of the following reasons.
1: Boat ride
Lake Naivasha is one of the most remarkable water activity one can do on a safari tour in Naivasha. The lake can be accessed on boat from countless locations around the lake. Each boat in Lake Naivasha carries between six and twenty people on its capacity with the cost of a boat ride starting at kshs 2500 per hour which is inclusive of a tour guide and life jackets.
The boat ride will lead, through the acacia trees and above the blue waters of the lake. The boat rides will expose you to a lot of birdlife ,among the commonly seen birds are Pelicans, fish eagles, herons and giant kingfisher which make up the over 300 bird species in the area. Lake Naivasha is known for its strong population of Hippos, which can be seen on the boat rides and from the several dotted lakes which are found along the shores of the lake, Outdoor activities in Naivasha Kenya
2: BMM Bikers Recreational Centre
BMM Bikers Recreation Centre which is located along the Moi south lake road. The Centre is a one stop shop with plenty of fun activities such as horse riding, hoverboarding, Quad bikes, archery, dirt bikes, skating, table tennis, Volleyball, PlayStation games, and drive club simulation for children this makes the Centre a hub for adrenaline lovers.
They also have boot camp sessions with unlimited challenges and obstacles to try out for kshs 200. Dirt bikes cost kshs 1500 for 15 minutes, Quad bikes also go for ksh 900 for 15 minutes inclusive of safety gear. The park also have sleeping pods for those who would wish to spend the night at the camp with the pods that accommodate two people for Kshs 4,000 breakfast inclusive.
3: Hells Gate National Park
Hells Gate National park is just located 5 kilometers from Naivasha Town. The tourist who visit the park on a Kenya safari can enjoy Nature walking and Biking to view wildlife in the area. There are no dangerous predators in the park making it safer for waking and biking than other parks. The park has spectacular scenery such as the towering cliffs, rock towers and water-gouged gorges offering a wonderful opportunity to walk on the wild side.
4:Crescent Island Game sanctuary
Crescent island game sanctuary is a peninsula of a beautiful nature sanctuary located on the eastern side of Lake Naivasha which can only be accessed by boat. This is the perfect place to enjoy the wildernesses, it boasts of having more animals per acre than any other Kenyan park.
They have a watch tower on a hill which has a 360 degree view across the lake to the Mau Escarpment onto Aberdare Ranges. Some of the animals found in the park include; Maasai giraffe, zebra , Dik-Dik, Steenbok, impala ,gazelles, warthogs, wildebeest, Waterbuck, Spring hare, Bushbuck, Elands, and Buffaloes among other animals. The lake has a lot of Hippos which are guaranteed to see from the island, Outdoor activities in Naivasha Kenya
5:Hiking up Mt. Longonot
Mt longonot national park was named from the Maasai word Oloonong’ot, meaning mountains of many spurs or steep ridges .The park is located southeast of Lake Naivasha. The park distance from the nearby town of Naivasha is 27.2km. The park’s best views can be experienced from the hardest climb. From the park one can have unobstructed view of Lake Naivasha and the Great Rift Valley. Mount Longonot hike will take about four to six hours depending on one’s endurance. For those who are hiking for their first time ,they can start with Sleeping warrior and Ugali hills in Elementaita which is about 30 minutes from Naivasha Town.
6:Swim at Olkaria Geothermal spa.
Olkaria Geothermal Spa is located inside Hells Gate National Park and it is one of the largest natural spas. The Spa has three lagoons with temperatures ranging from 30 to 100 degrees centigrade. Visitors are only permitted to swim in the third lagoon which has the lowest temperatures of between 30 to 40 degrees centigrade and is 1.5 metres deep visit to the spa costs kshs 400 per Adult and kshs 100 per child for unlimited access to the pool. Many people believe that the water at the Spa has health benefits such as ironing out wrinkles, promoting fluid balance and improving the immune system. Olkaria Geothermal Spa also has a separate steam sauna, a cafeteria, and an exhibition hall.
7:Learn and play golf at Barons Park Golf Centre.
The Barons golf centre is Kenya’s first dedicated golf practice centre which is located at Delamere Kobil Service station on the busy Nairobi- Nakuru highway. At the centre you’ll pay ksh 200 to learn and play golf. The centre was established to demystify the notion that the golf is only for the elite. The centre has a day and night-time golf practice area, multi-hole putting greenshank are full size a pro shop, a clubhouse and golf instruction facilities, Outdoor activities in Naivasha Kenya
8:A Flower farm Tour
Naivasha is a region with 40 per cent of Kenya’s cut flower exports and it is the horticulture industry hub with around 70 flower farms. This is because the region’s fertile soils and the availability of water. You can book a free flower farm tour to learn more about the various types of flowers which are grown in the area.
9:Camping
There are wide range of camping options available in the region from luxury-Tented camps to Budget friendly to pitch your own tent ground. Naivasha caters to all type of travellers. The Camping offers opportunities to enjoy a bonfire while chatting the night away. Some of the camps include Oloiden, Crayfish, Fisherman’s camp, Camp Carnelleys and Naivasha West beach among many others.
10:Naivasha nightlife
Naivasha Town trip is not complete without experiencing the city’s nightlife. There are several lounges in the town including the recently established party island lounge which is located on Moi South Lake. Other clubs available are the Bubbles and the Old station lounge where visitors can enjoy good music and dance the night away.
