Tourism Activities at Hells Gate National Park
What makes Hells Gate National Park in Kenya such a unique experience is the fact you can enjoy walking and a cycling safari here, getting up close and personal with the animals and breathing in all that amazing scenery. You can take part in a number of tourism activities at Hells Gate National Park.
Hell’s Gate National Park is an adventurer’s playground boasting excellent hiking and cycling trails as well as the opportunity to really get the adrenaline pumping with abseiling or rock climbing. Hells Gate National Park is the ideal venue for a day trip excursion, a camping stop over or a picnic spot out of Nairobi.
Wild Camping
The park is equipped with three basic campsites, camping is safe in the park even though there are no guns or fencing between you and wildlife. Those who enjoy wild adventure, always visit this park to enjoy a wonderful picnic while camping here. There are also several lodges around Naivasha Lake, popular among tourists for watersports, bird, and game viewing in private ranches and walks along Crescent Island, Crater Lake, and Mt. Longonot.
Game Viewing
There are herds of buffalo, zebra, elands, Thomsons Gazelle, warthog, Masai giraffe to see and you can even walk close along. The Lion, leopard, and cheetah also live in the park but hard to spot. Baboons can be seen in Fischer’s Tower.
Filming and photography tours
The main setting of the 1994 film, The Lion King is heavily modeled after the park, where several lead crew members of the film went to the park to study and gain an appreciation of the environment for the film. The 2003 film Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life was shot on location in this park.
Bird watching
Many bird species patrol the valley floor and others on high cliffs, others nesting on the gorge or on the top of the Fischer’s Tower. The best time is from November to April when migrants from Europe and North Africa are in the park. This coincides with the Wet season when many species can be seen in breeding plumage as they are nesting. Some 103 different bird species have been recorded in Hell’s Gate National Park, so you can reasonably expect to spot at least 25-30 species during a one-day visit; easiest to identify are the secretary bird and common ostrich, which patrol the valley floor.
Climbing.
The rock walls are just made for climbing. An easy but famous climb is the Fischer’s Tower. You need equipment and a guide to climb in the park, so ask before in your hotel. A volcanic plug near the northeastern border of Hell’s gate national park, with a height of approximately 25 meters.
Cycling.
From the Elsa Gate to the Hell’s Gate Gorge its a 7km dirt road, slightly downhill – coming back will take you longer. Cycling is a good option to see a few African animals face to face. Hell’s Gate is smaller and less packed with animals than Kenya’s other parks, but there’s nothing like pedaling your bike past a herd of zebras or trying to keep pace with a galloping giraffe. The best bike ride stretches four miles from the main entrance of the park, Elsa Gate, to the picnic site and ranger station near the entrance to the Ol Njorowa Gorge.
It is a good experience, but be prepared for the burning afternoon sun. There are bikes for rent in many hotels, at the junction to the Elsa Gate and at the park entrance.
Fisher’s Tower
Tower-which is a volcanic plug, remains of the ancient volcano, which is 25m high. Hells Gate Fischers Tower is 25 meters (75 ft) high rocky tower and offers excellent climbing. It is located near the main entrance of the Park. For Masai, the tower is a Maasai girl which has be turned to stone after disobeying the family before her wedding.
Peek into Earth’s history
Bring a packed lunch—and a cold Tusker, Kenya’s favorite lager—to picnic at the Ranger’s Station picnic area. Be warned, vervet monkeys and baboons abound and unlike Simba’s mandrill friend, Rafiki (which means friend in Swahili), these monkeys are more likely to steal your food than offer sage advice. A day trip from Nairobi is very common here as you can come with your packed lunch and enjoy an incredible moment here.
Explore Nature Trail on Foot
An excellent hiking trail. It offers a refreshing walk in quiet nature trails where the only interruptions are birds singing and trees whistling. The single-track Fisher Towers Trail has both dirt and rock pavement surface. It’s easy to follow and is well marked with cairns or rock stacks to point the way. No shade is found on the trail, so plan your hike accordingly on hot days. It’s best in the early morning or evening. Remember to bring plenty of water, use sunscreen, and wear a hat.
Community Experience
From here, you can hire a guide—the area is community-run by Maasai people—to take you on a hike through the Ol Njorowa Gorge. The trail is not for the faint of heart; you’ll ford streams, scramble over boulders, and scale short rock faces, but the impressive views are well worth the effort.
Hell’s Gate National Park is very incredible with the beautiful landscape that rewards you with a great natural treat. For a Kenya safari package to this wonderful park, get in touch with Enclose Africa Safaris, and get going as service quality is a guarantee with the company to reward you with a top-notch safari moment to this park.