Lake Naivasha
Only 90 km (56 miles) north west of Nairobi, at the foot of the Rift Valley Escarpment,
lies Lake Naivasha. Few lakes have a lovelier or more commanding setting than this,
the highest and purest of all the Rift Valley lakes. Its secluded lagoons are fringed
with papyrus. Mount Longonot 2,977m a now extinct volcano, dominates the skyline
in shades of misty blues and purples.
Lake Naivasha claims to be home to more species of bird life than the whole of the
British Isles. Water birds exist in great variety and abundance. Pelican, cormorant
and heron are well represented and are best viewed during a boat trip on the lake,
which also offers the chance to see hippo at close quarters. A notable bird is the
African fish eagle which nests in the trees along the lakeshore, and whose haunting
cry is heard echoing across the water. A narrow causeway links the mainland to Crescent
Island, a private game sanctuary, where you can walk, viewing a variety of game such
as gazelle waterbuck, zebra, giraffe, bat-eared fox, and dik dik.
13 km south of Lake Naivasha is the dramatic Hell's Gate Gorge (where Tomb Raider
II was filmed) - a stark passageway between red towering cliffs. It is here that
the Lammergeyer nests - the rarest of Kenya's birds of prey.
© SXS
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