Kenya is a country brimming with natural beauty and one-of-a-kind wildlife.
In addition to its stunning scenery, Kenya has several world-class attractions visitors can enjoy during their time in the East African nation.
From volcanic rock glaciers to the pride of lions and buffaloes, there is plenty to keep tourists busy at Hells Gate National Park in Kenya.
But first…
Park Hours and Entrance Fees
The park is open to the public from 9 am to 6 pm every day of the week.
You will be asked to provide your passport or National ID at the entrance.
Additionally, there is an entrance fee before you enter the park.
The charges include:
- Citizen: KSH 300/$2.5 (Child KSH 215/$1.5)
- Resident: KSH 600/$5 (Child KSH 300/$2.5)
- Non-Resident: $26 (Child $17)
- VEHICLE: Less than 6 seats KSH 300/$2.5
- More than 6-7 seats KSH 1030/$8.5
- PUBLIC CAMPSITE: Citizen KSH 200/$1.6 (Child KSH 150/$1.5)
- Resident KSH 350/$2.9 (Child KSH 200/$1.6)
- Non-Resident $20 (Child $15)
- SPECIAL CAMPSITE: KSH 7500/$61.5
- Reservation fee; Citizen KSH 250/$2 (Child KSH 200/$1.6)
- Resident KSH 600/$5 (Child KSH 350/$2.9)
- Non-Resident $35 (Child $20)
7. Activities In Hells Gate National Park in Kenya
Hells Gate National Park is located in Nakuru county, South of lake Naivasha and North West of Nairobi.
This is a great place to get away from it all and enjoy the simplicity of nature.
Below is a detailed list of what to do at Hells Gate National Park.
1. Hike and Climb the Cliffs and Gorges
While at Hells Gate National Park, you can enjoy its scenic view by putting on your hiking boots and hitting the trails.
Hells Gate is a beautiful park that was created by the British in an attempt to preserve the endangered species of wildlife animals.
It is home to all kinds of animals. The park also has many other plants and trees you will experience on the trails.
The hiking trails in this park are long and difficult, but they are also rewarding.
The views you will get from these trails are genuinely superb and gorgeous.
Once you get to the top and take a look down, you will feel a sense of accomplishment.
The Best Part about Hiking Hells Gate
It allows you to connect with nature in a way that most people don’t do anymore due to technology taking over the everyday routine!
Hiking at Hell’s Gate National Park will allow you to slow down your mind and enjoy nature at its very best.
It also gives you time away from distractions such as televisions or cell phones so you can truly appreciate what’s happening around you instead.
Caution – Be very careful once it begins to rain. The canyon can fill up fast when it begins to rain, and there’s a high risk of flash floods. It is a dangerous place when this happens. So it’s essential to find your way out as fast as possible. There are “emergency exit” signs marked throughout the trails.
2. Rock Climbing at Fischer’s Tower
Fischer’s Tower is another site to savor all that nature offers at Hells Gate National Park in Kenya.
Fischer’s Tower is a massive monolith that rises hundreds of feet above its surroundings in the middle of a verdant valley.
It’s easy to see why this area is so important: it provides an unobstructed view of the park, allowing for easy navigation and communication.
Visitors can climb up to the top of Fischer’s Tower for a bird’s-eye view of the enormous National Park or walk around on the ground level, taking in all that nature has to offer.
What to Expect – The views from Fischer’s Tower are breathtaking—you’ll be able to spot elephants and rhinos from miles away!
3. Game Viewing
If you’re looking for a perfect place for game-watching not so far away from Nairobi, we highly recommend Hells Gate National Park.
With a wide variety of wildlife—from elephants to lions, giraffes to impalas, zebras, and antelope, there are undoubtedly enough animal types.
The park is also one of the few places in the world where you can see both black and white rhinos together; in fact, there’s always at least one group of the said animals nearby!
You can watch these animals up close in your car or on foot (more than enough trails are leading you through the park).
But if you want to get up close and personal with these majestic beasts without getting too close for comfort, there are two spots where you can do just that: the East Gate and West Gate.
These gates are located on opposite sides of Hells Gate National Park, allowing visitors access to the park from either side while keeping it isolated from public roads so that wildlife can remain safe.
The East Gate is open 24 hours a day (except during emergencies), allowing visitors to watch wildlife at all hours of sunlight.
Is there accommodation for visitors?
The park has a wide range of accommodation options ranging from budget to luxury hotels with amenities that include:
- swimming pools
- spa facilities
- and restaurants offering delicious food at reasonable prices
Visitors can also take advantage of the nearby resorts offering excellent services such as golf courses and tennis courts.
This helps visitors from all over the globe to enjoy themselves even further while staying in these resorts!
4. Cycling Safari
Hells Gate National Park is a beautiful place to spend time outdoors, but it’s not just about the scenery.
It’s also about the experience of being with nature, which can be rewarding when done right!
Nothing can beat the experience of cycling past a buffalo, a group of zebras, or gazelles around the park.
Cycling isn’t just about biking around in circles; it’s also about getting outside and experiencing the sights and crisp smell of your surroundings.
Whether it’s hot desert air blowing through your hair or fresh mountain air filling your lungs as you ascend the steep incline, it is a one-of-a-kind way to get close to nature—and it’s fun too!
Where to get a bike
You can bring along your bike and cycle around the park.
Alternatively, there are bicycle rental services just across the Elsa gate.
If you are staying in nearby hotels, you can also ask them if they offer such services. Most do.
The bicycles are a bit used, so do not expect perfection.
But before you head out, ensure your bike is working correctly; enough air in tires and functional gears.
Most bike rentals around here won’t give you bike helmets; if you get one, consider yourself lucky.
PS: It’s cheaper to hire a bike across the Elsa gate than from the hotel you are staying in.
Additional benefits of cycling Hells Gate:
- Cycling is a great workout. You’ll burn extra calories while riding, which can help you stay fit and healthy.
- You can see more wildlife than on foot or by car. You’ll have a better chance of seeing animals like elephants, giraffes, and rhinos in this area than anywhere else in Kenya because vehicles are banned from many parts of the park—and there are lots more animals here than elsewhere!
- Cycling is less expensive than other transportation options like renting cars or buses. The roads in Hell’s Gate National Park are narrow, winding, and bumpy—so it’s not easy to navigate them on foot or by car (or even by bicycle). But your trip will get cheaper if you cycle instead of driving.
5. Beautiful Picnic Sites
Hell’s Gate National Park is a beautiful place to spend a day at the picnic table.
It’s not just because the park is a unique natural wonder—it’s also because it has several amenities that make picnics easy and fun.
The park provides bathrooms, water fountains, and covered picnic tables.
There are also restrooms with running water and flush toilets maintained by park staff.
Dispensers are available at each site if you forget to bring sunscreen or bug spray.
The park has several trails for hiking or walking through its lush vegetation, but it’s also full of beautiful views of the Rift Valley.
There’s even a waterfall!
And if you want to swim or cool off in the lake, there are many opportunities for that too.
6. Camping
There are several camping sites at Hells Gate:
- Naiburta
- Oldubai
- and Endachata
And because the big animals such as lions and leopards are not easy to spot in this park, it’s safe to camp here.
There are toilets, showers, and picnic shelters at the said sites.
However, they do not provide camping gear or firewood, so carry yours.
7. Bird watching
This park is known for its wide variety of bird species—hundreds of 400 different species found here—so it’s no wonder it’s considered one of the best places in the world for bird watching.
You can expect to see everything from black to white-tailed eagles, so if you love bird-watching, this place is perfect.
Final Thoughts
Consider visiting Hell’s Gate National Park if planning a trip to Kenya.
This is a remarkable place due to the incredible natural beauty and memories you will cherish for life.
You will want to experience the safari adventure, enjoy the nature hikes, take some time for swimming or fishing, and explore the rare flora and fauna.
