The boat trip
Among trees standing in water.
Daniel Case — CC BY-SA 4.0 · VickyOmondi — CC0 · Daniel Case — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Shadrack Muchai — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Sabina Müller — CC BY-SA 4.0
Lake Naivasha is a freshwater lake in the Great Rift Valley, outside the town of Naivasha northwest of Nairobi. Its name comes from a Maasai word meaning «that which heaves», referring to waves when it is windy. It is among the easiest nature trips from the capital and one of the best places to see hippos up close. It lies at 1,884 m with an average depth of 6 m, reaching 30 m near Crescent Island. Its level has risen sharply in recent years, growing from 139 to 198 square kilometres between 2010 and 2020, and water has flooded buildings and trees along its shore. The favourite activity is a boat trip among dead trees standing in the water, with groups of hippos and birds around you. The Malewa and Gilgil rivers feed the lake, which has no visible outlet. Yellow acacias surround it, and hippos sometimes come out to graze on the shore in the evening. It is 3.6 km in a straight line from Crescent Island, which you can reach by boat on the same trip. Wear a life jacket and do not ask the boatman to go too close, as hippos are dangerous. Keep clear of them on the shore too, especially at sunset. Agree the boat's price and length before boarding.
Among trees standing in water.
Groups near the shore.
A fine frame for the lake.
Outside Naivasha town, Nakuru County
Yes with a good operator and life jacket, as long as you do not go too close to the hippos.
Yes, it is among the easiest nature trips from the capital.