Hells Gate National Park

Hells Gate National Park is named after a narrow opening in the cliffs that used to be a tributary of an ancient lake that fed early inhabitants in the Rift Valley. Hells Gate National Park is a small national park in Kenya, some 100 km south of Lake Naivasha and northwest of Nairobi. Established in 1984, the park covers 68.25 square kilometres and is renowned for its great fauna and scenic splendour. Hells Gate National Park is named after a narrow opening in the cliffs that was once a stream of an ancient lake that provided food for early humans in the Rift Valley.

Hells Gate National Park is close to two volcanoes, Longonot and Suswa, which are ideal for day treks. It is also close to Nakuru National Park, where you can view rhinos that you won’t see at Hells Gate, and Lake Naivasha, where you can go boating and admire the pink streaks of flamingo flocks. Hells Gate is a parched, dusty, dramatic, yet infinitely serene Kenyan park filled with huge animals. The park is safe to explore by bicycle or on foot, and it is one of only two Kenyan national parks that allow visitors to explore on foot.

Despite its tiny size, Hells Gate National Park is an adventurer’s dream, with superb hiking and cycling paths, as well as the opportunity to get your adrenaline pumping through abseiling or rock climbing. Hells Gate National Park is an excellent Kenya safari place for a day trip excursion, camping overnight, or picnic outside of Nairobi.

The park, which was once an ancient lake, is today well-known for its unusual environment and the rich fauna that lives there, including giraffes, hartebeests, and buffalo. Hells Gate National Park also has several tiny waterfalls, both cold and hot, as well as beautiful multicoloured rock strata and formations. Some of the locales may be familiar to you from Tomb Raider: Cradle of Life and The Lion King.

Because large carnivores are rare, you can cycle by grazing zebras, giraffes, impalas, and buffaloes, see rock hyraxes clambering up the hill, and follow dust clouds as they whirl in the wind.

Getting to Hells Gate National Park.

Hells Gate National Park is located 100 kilometres (62 miles) northwest of Nairobi and 18 kilometres (11 miles) west of Naivasha. The two-hour trip from Nairobi is an adventure in and of itself, especially given the stunning vistas of the Great Rift Valley from Escarpment Road. During WWII, Italian prisoners of war built the road, and the small church they built is worth seeing. Hells Gate can be reached through two primary gates: the Elsa Gate and the Olkaria Gate.

There are also daily flights to Naivasha’s western airstrip, Loldia. Nairobi is easily accessible because it is one of the continent’s major transportation centres. International flights arrive at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO), which is 15 kilometers/9 miles southeast of Nairobi. Naivasha is an attractive stopover between Nairobi and the Masai Mara. The distance between Naivasha and the Masai Mara is 170 kilometers/105 miles, or a three-and-a-half hour drive.

Attractions of Hells Gate National Park

Hells Gate National Park is a renowned Kenya safari location offering a variety of tourist activities such as hiking, rock climbing, biking, animal viewing, guided safari treks, and a variety of picnic spots, among others.

Game Watching

Hells Gate National Park is home to a diverse range of species, making it perfect for game viewing, particularly in the early morning. During your safari game drives, you will be able to witness buffaloes, giraffes, elands, hartebeests, impalas, Thompson’s gazelles, zebras, and huge rodents, as well as vultures, Verreaux’s eagles, and a variety of birds. Except for one of the big five, “the African buffaloes,” the park has no huge creatures or predators, making it perfect for exploration on foot or by bicycle. However, for self-guided game drives, you must have an armed guide with you.

Hiking

This is one of the most exciting tourist activities at Hells Gate National Park. Hiking is done with the help of local guides, and you can take a walking tour across the park while they describe its history and wildlife. Hiking at Hells Gate National Park starts at OI-Njorwa Gorge, which is temporarily closed to the public owing to flash floods that caused tragedy and loss of life.

We urge that visitors carefully check the weather before leaving for hiking tours in the park. Flash floods occur primarily during the wet season. The treks here average about three hours and are a fantastic way to discover the park’s stunning terrain and rich species. Hiking trips via Hells Gate are best done during the dry season, when there is no risk of sudden floods. Unlike other parks, this one has fewer dangerous wild animals, making it an ideal Kenya trekking location.

Rock climbing at Fischer’s Tower.

In 1883, a notable German explorer named Dr. Fisher proposed translating the Masaai word “Enemeneng”. He is remembered by a tall rock in the park, which is a famous safari destination for rock climbers in Kenya.

Fischer’s Tower is the most remarkable natural rock in Hells Gate National Park, and visitors should not miss it. This 25-meter-tall rock provides amazing views of the park’s stunning scenery, wildlife, and adjacent areas.

Cycling Tours

Cycling is a great and popular activity in Hells Gate since it allows you to ride across an open area while admiring clear views of grazing zebras, giraffes, and other wildlife, as well as the park’s spectacular backdrop. Because there are no carnivores in the park, it is an excellent location for a wild riding adventure. Travellers who prefer cycling in the woods will find this to be one of the ideal sites to do so, as bikes are available for hire at the Elsa gate. Before you go on a ride, make sure you’re comfortable with it.

It is recommended that you hire a guide to accompany you because they can direct you to the proper places/ride tracks and help you fix your bike if you break down along the road. The most intriguing cycling path in Hells Gate National Park is the gorge road, which circles the Ranger’s Post. This route takes you downward on the way out and uphill on the way back, so be sure your legs are physically healthy enough to push through the incline. You can rent a bicycle for between KSH 1,000 and 1,500, depending on who you hire it from.

Visit the hot springs.

Hells Gate National Park is rewarding with its gorgeous hot springs, where you can swim and admire the view of a little waterfall in the gorge.

Cultural Experience

Hells Gate National Park is surrounded by Maasai settlements, which can be visited while on a Kenya Safari. You will have the opportunity to learn about the traditions and lifestyles of these unique African countries. Furthermore, you can hire a local guide to lead you on a walk through the Ol Njorowa Gorge. The walk is difficult, yet it is also appropriate for beginning hikers. Expect to go over ford creeks, boulders and short rock cliffs, with rewarding views.

Picnics

Picnic sites in Hells Gate National Park are located near the ranger station. When you arrive, you must exercise extreme caution with your packed lunch since there are monkeys on the premises, and because they are an active species, they may steal your meal. If you need to relax, there is a pleasant resting place at the base of Fischer’s tower where you can eat your picnic lunch.

Best time to visit Hells Gate National Park

The greatest time to visit Hells Gate National Park is during the dry season, which runs from June to March, when there is no rain and game viewing and other outdoor activities are at their peak. However, Hells Gate National Park is open to visitors all year; however, game viewing is difficult during the wet season due to inaccessible roads and trails.