Activities in Hells Gate Naivasha – 7+ Fun Things to Do
Hells Gate National Park in Kenya is a fun place to spend a day with family, and friends, or even meet new people if you are a solo traveler. In this post, we’ll go over seven top activities in Hell’s Gate Naivasha that you can engage in.
Top activities that you can do in Hells gate Naivasha include biking, mini safari, hiking, rock climbing, soaking in a natural spa, and bird watching.
Now let’s get into the details of how much each activity will cost you and if you must do all the activities.
Quick Summary
If you are in a rush this is a list of all activities available in Hells Gate National Park:
- Biking – (Bike rental $7.50 USD. If using your own bike, it will cost you $1.75 USD to bring it to the park)
- Bird watching – (Free. Note carry your binoculars if you fancy bird watching)
- Gorge exploration/hiking- (Guide: $ 14 USD)
- Natural spa – (Non-Residents: Adults $18 USD, Kids $8.50 USD)
- Camping – (Non-Residents: $30 USD)
- Rock climbing –
- Game viewing/safari
- Obsidian caves – Free
- Park entry – ( Non-Residents: Adults $ 26 USD, Kids $17 USD)
- Car parking – ( Charges will vary depending on the number of seats)
How much is a bike in Hells Gate?
Renting a bike in Hells Gate costs $7.50 USD per day, which is roughly 800 Kenyan shillings (Ksh). However, you can negotiate with the bike owners for a better deal if this is beyond your budget.
Biking in Hells Gate is a major attraction to locals and tourists as you get to meet wildlife along the trails. If you are lucky, you will encounter antelopes, Thomson’s gazelles, and zebras crossing the biking trails. If not you can always spot them grazing in the nearby grasslands.
Those wishing to go biking in the park can either rent a bike at Elsa gate or bring their own. If staying in the nearby campsites or hotels along Lake Naivasha, you will easily find rentals within the camps. Keep in mind when bringing in your own bike you pay Ksh 215 ($1.75) for the bike.
Biking Trails
The main biking trail within the park leads to the gorges’ entrance. If feeling adventurous you can go off-trail and explore more. Biking to the gorge gate, which is an 18 km ride from the main gate. The road here is well-tarmacked and fairly easy to bike on.
As a beginner or when energy levels are low I highly advise biking on the Twiga trail. This is shorter and with minimal challenges but it can still take a toll on you if you haven’t bn active. For adventurous exploration, you can go further west into the park and stop by Hobley’s Volcano for more sightseeing.
Do you need a guide when biking?
When biking on the main route you don’t need a guide. However, if you wish to go on the adventurous route or biking solo, it’s highly recommended to hire a guide. The guides know all the best sites with things to see and they’ll also guide you through the park.
During the weekends, there are many visitors both locals and tourists, so you can always join a group and have even more fun. Please note the guide will cost you extra if you decide to hire one.
Read More: Hells Gate National Park, Kenya – Your Ultimate Guide
Ol Njorowa Gorge exploration/hiking
The main attraction within the park is the Ol Njorowa gorge. Formed as part of the Great rift Valley and after years of water erosion. This 24 km gorge is a true beauty to explore trekking beneath the colorful rock state.
In addition to the dramatic rock formation and caves, other notable sites within the gorge include Hells’ kitchen a spot with multiple hot springs bubbling from the ground, and the filming spot of The Cradle of life movie.
Since this gorge is very long, hikes a usually divided into 3 sections. The shortest one is a 30-minute trek, the medium route is 1 hour and the longest route is 2 hours. The longest route includes the lower gorge, which remains closed since 2019 after a tragic flash flood accident that claimed several lives.
Do you need a guide?
Yes, all visitors wishing to explore the gorge must have a guide accompanying them. Guides can be found at the gorge entrance and will cost you about $14 USD paid on-site. If you have a biking guide you can negotiate a deal to include the gorge tour as well.
Please note the gorge exploration is only done on foot. All bikes and cars are parked by the entrance. It is safe here you will find your bike safe and sound after the hike.
Rock Climbing
Another popular activity in Hells Gate is rock climbing at the numerous rock formations within the park. The Fishers tower is the most popular spot among rock climbers.
Rock climbing enthusiasts wishing to summit this majestic rock can make plans at the park’s entrance. Hire rock climbing gear and a guide if you need one before attempting to climb.
If traveling with a tour company, let them know when booking that you would like to rock climb so they can make the necessary preparations. In most cases, rock climbing and gear fee aren’t included in the genal tour price and you will have to pay on-site.
Game viewing/safari
You can explore the protected park area on a mini safari. Unlike other parks in Kenya that are quite large, it’s possible to explore Hells Gate National Park in a few hours. Expect to see more zebras, African buffalo, antelopes, and gazelles, among others.
There are very few predators within this park but if you are lucky you may spot a lion or a cheetah.
Bird watching
Hlls Gate National Park is home to love 200 bird species making it a perfect place for bird watching. If you love this activity, you can bring your own binoculars or ask by the gate if there are any available for hire. The last time I checked I couldn’t find any to rent.
Go Camping
Those wanting to explore all activities in the park without any rush can camp within Hells Gate and do a 2-day tour instead of one.
There are three camping sites namely: Oldubai, Endachata, and Naiburta camping sites. Camping per night cost $30 USD for Non-Residents and KSH 700 ($6.50) for Residents.
Camping gear and essentials are not provided within the park so remember to pack everything you may need including firewood. Camping is open to tent campers and those with camping vans.
Olkaria Geothermal Natural spa
After a day of biking and hiking within the park, relax in the natural spa located a few minutes’ ride from the park. Due to the high geothermal activities within the park, hot water is pumped into the spa pool.
The mineral-rich water is therapeutic for the skin and will basically massage your sore muscles after all that biking and adventure. The spa is open until 6 pm if you want to check it out.
Olkaria Geothermal Natural spa Entrance fee
- Residents: Adults – KSH 1000, Kids– KSH 500
- Non-Residents: Adults – $18 USD, Kids– $8.50 USD
Should you do all the activities in Hells Gate?
No, you can skip some activities such as exploring the obsidian caves, game viewing, camping, and rock climbing. Many visitors enjoy biking, exploring the gorge, and just enjoying the scenery.
You don’t have to do everything if time and budget don’t allow it. In addition, if you are not in a position to ride a bike from the main entrance to the gorge entrance, then you can use a car instead.
For a simple fun day at the park, I would highly recommend exploring the gorge, swimming in the natural spa, and biking on the shortest route.
What to bring with you on a hells gate tour
These are the top things you shouldn’t forget to carry on your day trip to Hells Gate:
- Identification: (National ID or Passport for non-residents) to buy your ticket. It’s also important for identification in case of an emergency.
- Hellmt: since these, are not available for rent bring your own if you need one or if biking with kids.
- Water: Stay hydrated while biking and trekking. It can get really hot leaving you dehydrated and probably with a headache.
- Snacks and Food: The park is very far from any shopping center make sure to carry enough food and snacks to last you through the day. If camping, carry enough food to last you through the night and for breakfast.
- Sunscreen: You will be spending the whole day outdoors, remember to protect yourself from nasty sunburns
- Hat/baseball cap: When biking the back part of your neck is always exposed to the sun. Prevent sunburns by wearing a sun hat or a long-sleeved shirt with a high neck
- Proper shoes: Please wear the right shoes for biking and taking. Avoid open shoes that may limit your comfort when trekking the gorge. Trekking or hiking shoes are most preferred.
- Jacket: If your day starts early in the morning or ends late in the evening, carry a jacket with you. The park gets very windy and cold at these times.
- Card/Mobile money: Cash isn’t acceptable when paying the park entrance fee. Use your card or Mpesa for payments.
- Sunglasses: Keep your eyes protected from the sun, especially if exploring the park during the hot months.
