Kenya Parks
By Anthony Ham
Anthony is a renowned Africa expert and author of many Lonely Planet guidebooks, including the guide to Kenya.
Hell’s Gate is not a Big Five destination. There is plenty of wildlife, but aside from buffalo – nothing to worry about – which makes walking and cycling excellent activities. Burchell's zebra, Coke's hartebeest, Thomson's and Grant's gazelle and impala are the main grazers. Giraffe and defassa waterbuck can also be encountered. Olive baboons are all over the cliffs. Predators aren’t easy to spot, but cheetah is here, while spotted hyena and black-backed jackal can sometimes be seen at dusk.
Wildlife Highlights
The plain-looking Chanler's mountain reedbuck is one of the more unusual antelope species that can be seen in the park. The park is also good for some of the small antelopes like Kirk's dik-dik and steenbok. Predators are shy here, but there is a chance of seeing the elegant serval.
Best Time for Wildlife Viewing
Hell’s Gate can be visited for hiking and cycling throughout the year, but wildlife viewing is best in the dry months from June to October when the grass is short. The scenery however, is at its most spectacular during the Wet season from November to May.
