Lake Naivasha/Hells Gate

Lake Naivasha is at the highest elevation of the Kenyan Rift Valley at 1,884 meters (6,181 ft) in a complex geological combination of volcanic rocks and sedimentary deposits from a larger Pleistocene Era lake. The lake is home to a variety of types of wildlife including over 400 different species of bird and a sizable population of hippos. The fish community in the lake has been highly variable over time, influenced by changes in climate, fishing efforts and the introduction of invasive species. Apart from transient streams, the lake is fed by the perennial Malewa and Gilgil rivers. The lake has an average depth of 6 meters (20 ft), with the deepest area being at Crescent Island, at a maximum depth of 30 meters. Njorowa Gorge once formed the lake’s outlet, but it is now high above the lake and forms the entrance to Hell’s Gate National Park. This private island sanctuary can be reached by boat, or by driving across the narrow, swampy causeway from Sanctuary Farm. It’s one of the few places in the Rift Valley where you can walk among giraffes, zebras, waterbucks, impalas and countless bird species. Lucky visitors might even spot a leopard. Hell’s Gate National Park lies south of Lake Naivasha in Kenya, northwest of Nairobi. Hell’s Gate National Park is named after a narrow break in the cliffs, once a tributary of a prehistoric lake that fed early humans in the Rift Valley. here is a wide variety of wildlife in the national park, though few in number. Examples of little-seen wildlife include lions, leopards, and cheetahs. However, the park has historically been an important home for the rare lammergeyer vultures. There are over 103 species of birds in the park, including vultures, Verreaux’s eagles, augur buzzards, and swifts. Hyraxes, African buffalo, zebra, eland, hartebeest, Thomson’s gazelle, hyena, and baboons are also common. The park is also home to several and small numbers of klipspringer antelope and Chanler’s mountain reedbuck