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Isabella Ferrario
IT
Visited:
August 2017
Reviewed: Aug 28, 2017
Email Isabella Ferrario | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
David Bartholomew
GB
Visited:
January 2016
Reviewed: Apr 4, 2016
Email David Bartholomew | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Very pretty place with cliffs lining one side of the park. Unfortunately we were unable to see any predators here, but were able to walk through the reserve.
Charles Lovely
US
Visited:
January 2015
Reviewed: Jul 2, 2015
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Lack of diverse wildlife and habitat. However, I have only visited once.
Bo Vejgaard
DK
Visited:
March 2015
Reviewed: May 13, 2015
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
We took a walking safari in Hell's Gate National Park. We had a very good and knowledgeable local guide, John. We came close to Zebras, Warthogs, Giraffes and a lot of Gazelles. We where also led in a big circle around a bunch of angry Buffalos.
A walking safari is a unique experience, and I would really recommend it.
Suryanarayan Ganesh
Visited:
December 2014
Reviewed: May 11, 2015
Unique safari destination, unlike any I have seen earlier!
Hell's Gate national park deserves a couple of days at least, unfortunately I had just one. Its a destination where you can do multiple things & get something out of it. This is one park where you can rent a bike outside & cycle through it. I understand you can also camp onsite here.
The safari drive through Hell's Gate national park is surreal - the scenery is spectacular with craggy mountains on either side. Easy to spot lots of deer, giraffes, zebras, wild buffalo, boar, birds, hyenas etc
Then I took the trek through the Park's ravine - a spectacular place; make sure you go all the way to the end where scenes of the Tomb Raider movie was shot. Its a good 2 hour hike, with wonderful photo-ops on along the route.
The park also has a geothermal station, wish they would allow tourists there too, I got only a peek from outside.
ninara
Visited:
December 2014
Reviewed: Apr 24, 2015
Naomi
Visited:
May 2014
Reviewed: Apr 23, 2015
The best was the hike through the gouge - loved every minute of it and the guide a beautiful person who explained everything through the gouge and put up with all our joke, laughter and good time we had at this special place.
NZ
US
Visited:
August 2013
Reviewed: Jan 1, 2014
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A unique safari experience and amazing scenery at Hell's Gate National Park
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(be sure to verify that your brakes work before agreeing to rent!), and that the road is unpaved, meaning it takes a bit more work to pedal than on something paved. In exchange though, you get unimpeded 360 degree views and the ability to actually take in the environment with all your senses. If an animal gets too close to the road, your guide may have you stop and back up to wait until it moves a safe distance away. These moments are exciting, but I do not think that they represent much danger as long as you follow instructions of the guides and respect the wild animals. Second, regardless of how you see the park, there are more options than just animal spotting available for activities. Your guide can take you hiking through the gorge that was the basis for the scenery for Disney’s “The Lion King” film, which is very nice, and you can go rock climbing on some of the park’s cliffs and towers. The easiest option for rock climbing is at “Fischer’s Tower” about a mile from the Naivasha park entrance, where you can rent gear from some men who will also serve as your spotters for about $10 (850 Kenyan schillings). The gear is clearly used, but looks to be taken care of well, and you get everything you need including climbing shoes and helmets. If one has never tried rock climbing before, this is a very much recommended opportunity.Since Hell’s Gate is so close to Nairobi, you can make a day trip out of going to it. The drive to the park from the capital takes you over the escarpments that bound the Great Rift Valley, and it is worth stopping to take in the stunning view of the valley floor thousands of feet below. Near Hell’s Gate is Lake Naivasha, and you can arrange to go on a boat trip on the lake to see hippos and flocks of cormorants. Both the lake and Hell’s Gate can be seen in a single day if you are willing to get up a little early, and it makes for a unique side trip as part of a larger Kenyan adventure.
Wim
KE
Visited:
February 2009
Reviewed: May 7, 2012
50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Small but Sweet park. With gorgeous (but sometimes dangerous) gorge.
Ian Macfadyen
GB
Visited:
September 2010
Reviewed: Apr 30, 2012
50-65 years of age
A day-trip into a mini-bite of real Africa
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the ground is hot to the touch and a strong smell of sulphur pervades the air. In addition to buffalo and the two species of Big Cat mentioned above, there are numerous species of plains game to be found, including Zebra, Kongoni, (Hartebeest), Eland, Clipspringer, Masai Giraffe, Thomson's Gazelle, Grant's Gazelle, and various other species of animal such as Olive Baboon, Vervet Monkey, Silver-backed Jackal, Warthog, and, if you're really lucky, Bat-eared Fox. Vultures nest on the cliffs, and at the base of the "plugs" live colonies of Rock Hyrax, a little brown animal resembling a guinea-pig, although substantially larger. In the centre of the park is a scenic gorge, - you can generally walk down this, (a good level of fitness is required), or view the gorge from above. The gorge was used in the filming of "Sheena, Queen of The jungle", and other locations within the park have on various occassions been used as a film-set, such as "Born Free", the story of Elsa the lioness. Hell's Gate National Park is highly recommended for a good day out whether you're in a vehicle or whether you've walked or cycled in from Lake Naivasha, where most of the campsites and lodges are located. Although my last visit was a while ago, I've been returning regularly since 1989. I stay at Fisherman's Camp, about three miles from the main entrance along the South Lake Road. This is primarily a campsite for back-packers, but the owner rents out a cottage which is ideal for a family, and there are bandas available too. When I visit with my wife or family we always rent the cottage, which is 600' above the lake near the owner's own house, - beyond this is the "top camp" which is quiet and secluded, or you can choose to stay on the bottom camp by the lakeshore. There's a restaurant there in which meals are served throughout the day, good simple fare such as buger & chips, etc., at a very reasonable price, indeed the food's so good that we take all our meals there throughout our stay although we tend to self-cater for breakfast. Within a short drive of the camp is Hell's Gate of course, and in the opposite direction there's Elsamere, (the former home of George & Joy Adamson), now open to the public for afternoon tea, and Crater Lake, a small private game conservancy with scenic views into the remains of a dormant volcano, open daily. Further afield there's The Aberdares and Lake Nakuru National Park, both of which can be visited in a day. For it's central position in relation to the other major lakes & parks, (Lake Bogoria, Lake Baringo, Samburu, and to the south, the Masai Mara, I always base myself at Naivasha for the major part of each and every trip. There are other camp-sites and lodges around Lake Naivasha but the other camp-sites don't have the stability and infra-structure of Fisherman's Camp and the lodges are of course, very much more expensive.
