Hell’s Gate National Park

Hell’s Gate National Park in the Rift Valley is located 110 kilometres north of Nairobi, making it ideal for a day trip or a stopover during a safari to northern Kenya.

Moreover, Mount Longonot National Park and Lake Naivasha are nearby, offering additional activities in the region.

What is Hell’s Gate National Park known for?

Hell’s Gate’s most striking feature is the natural beauty of the gorge, which not only inspired the creators of “The Lion King” but was also featured in the film “Tomb Raider”.

During the lower and middle Cambrian periods, the ochre-coloured gorge was believed to have been formed by water spilling out of Lake Naivasha, acting as an overflow. Today, the lake’s surface is lower than the gorge.

Reportedly, the narrow and steep walls of the gorge inspired the park’s name. In 1883, European explorers Fischer and Thomson named the gorge “Hell’s Gate”.

Things to do in Hell’s Gate National Park

Hell’s Gate is not only beautiful but also offers numerous outdoor activities in the heart of nature.

Visitors can rent mountain bikes at Elsa Gate and ride along the central trail. From the Ranger’s Post, riders can take the Buffalo and Twiga Circuits to explore more of the park.

While cycling, you can enjoy views of the gorge adorned with Whistling-thorn and Leleshwa trees and observe zebras, buffaloes, and gazelles grazing on the grasslands.

You can also take breaks at picnic spots, viewpoints, and obsidian caves along the way.

Near the entrance, visitors will see a single rock outcrop resembling a spear’s tip. It is called Fischer’s Tower and reaches 25 meters at its peak.

It is a focal point of the gorge and offers a popular rock-climbing pitch with incredible views from the top and a chance to encounter Rock Hyrax.

The start of a guided hike through the tightly winding Ol Njorowa Gorge and onto the hot springs can be found near the Central Tower, which is another climbable outcrop.

However, do not walk through the gorge during the rainy seasons, as flash floods can be dangerous.

Which animal’s can you see in Hell’s Gate National Park?

Although the wildlife numbers in Hell’s Gate National Park are comparably low, you can still see a diverse range of herbivores, such as the endangered Masai Giraffe, the rare Chanler’s mountain reedbuck, plains zebra, warthog, buffalo, hartebeest, Thompson’s and Grant’s gazelle, and more.

Baboons and rock hyrax are commonly seen near the cliffs, and at dawn and dusk, you might even spot one of the few shy predators, such as spotted hyenas, leopards, and Serval cats.

Birdlife

The park has an impressive 103 recorded bird species, making it a paradise for birdwatchers. Rare species, such as the Verreaux’s eagle and Lammergeier, can occasionally be spotted.

Endangered species like the Ruppel’s, Hooded, and White-backed vultures find sanctuary in the park’s cliffs.

Interestingly, the park’s vultures have been tracked to the Masai Mara National Reserve, where they are believed to feed.

For even more birdwatching opportunities, a visit to the nearby Lake Naivasha, Lake Nakuru National Park, and Aberdare National Park is highly recommended.

Where to stay

Apart from the four public campsites, no accommodation exists in the park. However, Lake Naivasha has several options nearby.