Hells Gate National Park

Hells Gate National Park is a small park in Kenya. It is about 100 kilometers northwest of Nairobi, south of Lake Naivasha. The park was created in 1984 and covers 68.25 square kilometers. It is famous for its amazing wildlife and beautiful scenery. There is a narrow crack in the cliffs that was once a stream that fed a lake that fed early people in the Rift Valley. This is where Hells Gate National Park got its name.

Two great mountains, Longonot and Suswa, are close to Hells Gate National Park and make great day hikes. Nearby are Nakuru National Park and Lake Naivasha. In Nakuru National Park, you can see rhinos that you wouldn’t see at Hells Gate. At Lake Naivasha, you can go boating and watch flamingo groups paint the water pink. Hells Gate is a dry, dusty, dramatic, but very quiet Kenyan park with big animals. The park is safe to walk or ride a bike through, and it’s one of only two national parks in Kenya where people can do that.

Even though Hells Gate National Park isn’t very big, it’s a great place for adventurers because it has great hiking and biking tracks and exciting activities like rock climbing and abseiling. For a Kenya safari, Hells Gate National Park is a great place for a day trip, a break for camping, or a picnic outside of Nairobi.

The park was once a lake from prehistoric times. It is now known for its unique scenery and the wide range of animals that live there, such as giraffes, hartebeests, and buffaloes. There are also beautiful, multicolored rock layers and formations in Hells Gate National Park, as well as a number of small, both hot and cold streams. If you’ve seen movies like Tomb Raider: Cradle of Life or been inspired by books like The Lion King, you may even know some of the locations.

Because big predators aren’t common, you can ride your bike past zebras, giraffes, impalas, and buffaloes that are feeding. You might also see rock hyraxes climbing up the hill and chase dust clouds as they move in the wind.

How to Get to Hells Gate National Park

The park is 100 km (62 mi) northwest of Nairobi and 18 km (11 mi) west of Naivasha. Coming from Nairobi is an adventure in and of itself, and the views of the Great Rift Valley from Escarpment Road make it even more so. Prisoners of war from Italy made the road during WWII. You should see the small church they built. Two important gates lead to Hells Gate. These are the Elsa Gate and the Olkaria Gate.

The Loldia airfield on the western side of Naivasha is also served by planes every day. Nairobi is one of the busiest transportation hubs on the region, so it’s easy to get to. Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO), which is 15 kilometers (9 miles) southeast of Nairobi, is where international planes land. The best place to stop on the way from Nairobi to the Masai Mara is in Naivasha. The Masai Mara is 170 km (105 mi) away from Naivasha. It takes three and a half hours to drive there.

Things to do in Hells Gate National Park

Hells Gate National Park is a popular place for safaris in Kenya. It has many activities for tourists, such as camping, rock climbing, biking, seeing animals, going on guided safari walks, and having picnics in different places.

Seeing games
Many kinds of animals live in Hells Gate National Park, which makes it a great place to see wildlife, especially early in the morning. There are safari game drives where you can see buffalo, giraffes, elands, hartebeests, impalas, Thompson’s gazelles, zebras, and big rodents. You can also see vultures, Verreaux’s eagles, and many other birds while on these drives.

The African buffalo is one of the “big five” animals that live in the park. Other than that, there are no other large beasts or predators there, so it’s perfect for exploring on foot or by bike. But if you want to go on a self-guided game drive, you need to bring an armed guide with you.

Hiking is one of the most interesting things to do in Hells Gate National Park. Guides from the area help people hike, and you can go on a walking tour of the park while they talk about its history and nature. In Hells Gate National Park, hiking starts at OI-Njorwa Gorge, which is closed to the public right now because of flash floods that killed many people and caused a tragedy.

Before going on a hike tour in the park, we suggest that visitors always check the weather. Flash floods happen most often when it rains. Hikes in this park last about three hours and are a great way to see the park’s beautiful scenery and variety of wildlife. The best times to go hiking in Hells Gate are when it is dry and there is no chance of flash floods. The park doesn’t have as many risky animals as other parks, which makes it a great place to go hiking in Kenya.

Hiking up rocks at Fischer’s Tower

In 1883, a famous German researcher named Dr. Fisher thought of a way to translate the Masaai word “Enemeneng.” A tall rock in the park is named after him and is a famous place for rock climbers in Kenya to go on safari.

People who go to Hells Gate National Park should not miss seeing Fischer’s tower, which is the most interesting natural rock there. From this 25-meter-tall rock, you can see beautiful views of the park’s scenery, animals, and other places nearby.

Tours by bike
Cycling in Hells Gate is a great and popular activity because it lets you see zebras, giraffes, and other animals feeding while riding through an open area. You can also see a stunning view of the park as a whole. The park is one of the best places to go on a bike tour in the wild because there are no wild cats there. Visitors who like riding bikes in nature will find this to be one of the best places to do so. At the Elsa gate, you can rent bikes. Make sure you’re ready for a ride before you go on it.

It is suggested that you hire a guide to go with you because they can show you the right direction, ride trails, and fix your bike if it breaks down along the way. The valley road that goes around the Ranger’s post is the most interesting bike path in Hells Gate National Park.

On the way out, this road goes downhill, and on the way back, it goes uphill. Make sure your legs are in good shape for the uphill, because you will have to push through it. There are different places where you can rent bikes, and the prices range from KSH 1,000 to 1,500.

Go to the hot springs.
The beautiful hot springs in Hells Gate National Park are worth the trip, and you can swim and enjoy the view of the small waterfall in the gorge.

Experience with Culture
On a Kenya safari, you can visit the Maasai villages that live around Hells Gate National Park. You will have the chance to learn about the customs and ways of life of these interesting African countries. You can also hire a guide from the area to lead you on a walk through the Ol Njorowa Gorge. The walk is hard, but it’s also doable for people who have never been hiking before. You’ll have to cross streams, climb over boulders, and walk along short rock walls on your way to beautiful views.

A picnic
Near the ranger station in Hells Gate National Park, there are places to have a picnic. When you get there, you need to be very careful with your packed lunch because there are monkeys around, and they are very busy, so they might steal it. At the base of Fischer’s tower, there is a cool spot where you can relax and eat your picnic lunch.

When is the best time to visit Hells Gate National Park?

The best time to visit Hells Gate National Park is during the dry season, which runs from June to March and doesn’t rain. This is when you can see the most wildlife and do most of the outdoor activities in the park. But Hells Gate National Park is a great place to visit any time of the year. The only problem is that the roads and tracks are often impassable during the rainy season, making it hard to see animals.

Places to stay in Hells Gate National Park

There aren’t any permanent places to stay in Hells Gate National Park because most people only stay there for one day. Three camping areas, though, let visitors sleep to the creepy sound of a hyena cackle and wake up early for a morning game drive. These are Endachata, Naiburta, and Olduvai.

Around Lake Naivasha, there are safari camps and hotels for when you need a little more comfort. Camp Carnelly’s is one of them. It’s a 15-minute drive from the park gates. You can camp next to Lake Naivasha or stay in a house tucked away in the fever trees. In any case, Lazy Bones is a great place to relax with a gin and tonic and a tasty samosa. Fisherman’s Camp, which is right next door, has similar features, as well as great brick oven pizza.