Hell’s Gate National Park
Hells Gate National Park is located North West of Nairobi and SouthWest of Lake Naivasha. This national park is located between Lake Naivasha and the Longonot and Suswa volcanoes and on the floor of the Great Rift Valley. This national park represents an area of geological action that led to different land formations such as hot springs and geysers due to ongoing geological processes which have led to the exceptional and beautiful scenery. Hells gate national park is famous due to its proximity to Nairobi and the name hells gate is a description of the steep-sided valley running through the national park.
The National Park is named after a narrow break in its cliffs and was once a prehistoric lake and the geothermal activity in the ecosystem. The vegetation in this national park is characterized by grasslands with shrubs, bushes, and acacia. The landscape at Hells gate national park is characterized by stunning volcanic scenery such as towering cliffs, gorges, rock towers, belching plumes of geothermal steam and extinct volcanoes such as Ol Karia and Hobley’s make it one of the most scenic national parks in Kenya. Ancient lava plugs can be seen sticking out from the valley floor in the national park. The national park is known for its steam plumes from geothermal energy underground which is harnessed to generate electricity and three geothermal stations can be found in the national park such as the Ol Karia power plant. An increase in the number of tourists in this number has been registered over recent years due to the geothermal projects such as Ol Karia one and two and this has greatly benefited the park.
The best time to visit Hells gate national park is June and March when wildlife viewing is more rewarding due to the little amount of rainfall received during this time of year.
Entry gates in Hells gate national park include Elsa gate, Narasha gate and Ol Karia gate.
Access to Hells gate national park can be made through the following means;
- By road; Nairobi- Naivasha highway
- By air/ flight; flights to Loldia airstrip
Attractions in Hells Gate National Park
Attractions that can be sighted by tourists in Hells gate national park include the following;
- Wildlife and bird species can also be seen in this national park and the wildlife species include giraffe, eland, hartebeest, buffalo, gazelle, klipspringers, rock hyrax, Chanler’s mountain reedbuck some of which are rare species. Bird species which can be sighted among the cliffs and flying around in the park include vultures, Verreaux’s eagle, lammergeyer, augur buzzard among others.
- Fischer’s tower and central tower are volcanic plugs of hard igneous rock that resisted erosion to form rocky columns which are rock climbing spots for tourists visiting Hells gate national park. Fischer’s tower is located near the main entrance of the national park. The tower was formed due to semi molten rock forcing into a fissure that cooled and solidified to form an extrusion. The formation of Fischer’s tower is also attached to certain local folk stories of the Maasai people who believe that the rock is a Maasai girl who turned into stone after turning her back on her father on her way to her future husband contrary to tradition. Fischer’s tower is found in the northeastern end of Hells gate national and is a walk able distance from Elsa gate.
- Hells gate gorge is a deep valley that runs through the national park and it is characterized by rock walls and a high volcanic column which can be climbed with a guide. Wildlife species can be spotted in this valley and they include zebras, giraffes, and warthogs as well as bird species such as vultures. Geothermal projects take place around this area and industrial pipes can be seen as you drive through the valley.
- Obsidian caves are an attraction located on Obsidian rock in the buffalo circuit. The obsidian rock was formed as a result of the rapid cooling of molten lava coming into contact with water resulting into the glassy texture of the rock.
- Lower gorge/ Ol Njorwa gorge is an attraction formed as a result of geological activity found in Hells gate national park characterized by water eroded walls which block out the sky. This gorge is also famous for a variety of movie productions such as Tomb raider which were shot from this gorge and inspired the movie production.
- Ol Karia geothermal power station is an interesting attraction in the national park which allows tourists to see how underground thermal energy has been harnessed to provide electricity to Kenya.
Activities in Hells Gate National Park
Activities for tourists to engage in during a safari in Hells gate national park include the following;
- Walking safaris engage tourists in treks the wild and different wildlife species are viewed such as zebra, eland, giraffes and walks can be done alongside the wildlife species while enjoying the sounds of nature and the dramatic scenery. One of the routes that tourists follow during a tour on foot/ walking safari involves walking through the lower gorge/Ol Njorwa with attractions such as hot and cold waterfalls, hot springs and beautifully colored rock striations and formations which can be seen in the company of a guide. Ol Njorwa is risky to climb during the wet seasons as the rocks become slippery.
- Biking/cycling engages the tourists in cycling to their hearts content past grazing wildlife species such as zebras, Hartebeest, gazelles, jackals and many other wildlife species where the option of renting a bicycle from the gate or bring your own bicycle is available for this unique way of game viewing.
- Game viewing in this national park is activity where a variety of wildlife species can be sighted such as the buffalo which is one of the big five and many other wildlife species can also be viewed such as giraffe, zebra, eland, hartebeest, Thomson’s gazelle, olive baboons, klipspringers in the thinned out bushes where they graze. A drive through the national park allows a view of the valley on either side of which are red rock cliffs where klipspringers and rock hyraxes can be sighted.
- Rock climbing can also be done by the tourists in Hells gate national park and there’s climbing gear which can be hired for climbing the cliffs. It’s done in the company of a park ranger/guide and the rock climbing spots include Fetcher’s tower which inspired the “pride rock” in the animation lion king.
- Hiking in Hells gate national park is done through river gorges which is one of the ways of experiencing the park’s scenery such as deep gorges, red-colored cliffs, rock towers, hot springs and geysers among others offering great photography spots.
- Cultural interactions involve learning more about Maasai’s culture and traditions at a Maasai cultural center neighboring the national park where the Maasai live in their typical homestead “boma” and they offer entertainment to tourists such as cultural dances. Souvenirs can also be bought during the visit to Maasai cultural center.
Accommodation in the National Park
Accommodation in the park is well serviced to ensure a comfortable and relaxed stay of tourists and it ranges from luxury accommodation, midrange accommodation and budget accommodation which include the following;
- Luxury accommodation; Kiboko luxury camp, Mvuke spa, Naivasha kongoni lodge.
- Midrange accommodation; Lake Naivasha resort, Eseriani the hotel, Sweet lake resort, Hippos safaris resort.
- Budget accommodation; Burch’s resort Naivasha, Triple Eden Naivasha hotel, Naivasha tree house.
For an overnight stay at Hells Gate national park in addition to the available accommodation facilities, a number of campsites are also available which gives the campers scenic views of Mount Longonot and the Mau escarpment. Camping as an accommodation option for tourists is highly recommended for a wonderful experience in the wild.
Engage in an adventure in Hells gate national park and cycle through the plains amidst the wildlife species and the beautiful rocky scenery for an amazing Kenyan safari experience.
