Lake Naivasha

Lake Naivasha is a freshwater lake in Kenya, outside the town of Naivasha in Nakuru County, which lies north west of Nairobi. It is part of the Great Rift Valley. The name derives from the local Maasai name Nai'posha, meaning "rough water" because of the sudden storms which can arise.

Resting at an elevation of 1890 meters is the serene freshwater Lake Naivasha, a superb oasis to include on your safari holiday in Kenya with AfricanMecca (read more on reasons to visit). Just beyond its shores are papyrus swamps, acacia woodlands, forests and unique geologic features that are remnants of the area’s volcanic past. The nutrient-rich soil is fertilized by an abundance of water, including the Gilgil and Malewa Rivers, to create an ecosystem that is known around the world for a diverse avian presence, as well as terrestrial game animals. Lake Naivasha is a RAMSAR site, a designation that reflects the ecological importance of the wetlands around the lake. More than 450 distinct birdlife species have been identified, and the resident avifauna are joined by migratory species from October to March. The lake, high cliffs and forests are home to spectacled weavers, red-billed fire finches, grey-backed fiscals, grey-capped warbler and many other interesting and colorful aerial creatures. The most prominent, though, are the cormorants and pelicans while the African fish eagles are the most majestic of the raptors. As you tour through the acacia forests, you may sight hawks, cuckoos, woodpeckers, shrikes and other birds, and a solo giraffe may peer through the thorn-leaves branches out of curiosity. The papyrus swamps are where you find jacanas, herons and kingfishers.

Lake Naivasha is one of the primary drinking holes for buffalos, zebras, elands, impalas, waterbucks and other grazers, as well as a favorite place for hippos to cool themselves during the day. Take a night game drive on one of the surrounding private conservancies like Loldia and Oserian, and you will see these incredible animals slowly emerge from their wallowing sites in the lake to grass along the shores. On your game drive, you may also see the other plains and forest fauna including the elusive leopard. AfricanMecca Safaris arranges every aspect of your adventure-seeking travel in Kenya, including your varied Lake Naivasha tour activities. We recommend a morning or afternoon boating excursion around the lake or to Crescent Island so that a professional guide and ornithologist can help you locate and identify avifauna by colors, location and behaviour. Nature walks are another popular way to enjoy Lake Naivasha, and these outings get you close to some of the lakes smaller denizens. We also recommend horseback riding, community visits, flower farm trip visits, tours of Elsamere and day excursions to Lake Elementaita, Hell’s Gate and Lake Nakuru National Parks. Naivasha located in central Kenya is only 15 minutes flight or a two-hour drive from Nairobi.