Hell’s gate National Park Kenya – Self Drive Africa
Loving and interesting nature walks along side cycling adventures are most recommended to travelers that select to explore Hell’s gate National park while on Classic overland trips in Africa with 4wd Africa.
Hell’s Gate National park is found in Kenya named after a narrow break in the cliffs once a tributary lake that fed the humans in the rift valley. It is famously known for having the hot springs and hot geysers. It is a home to many animals and also has fun activities to do while at the park.
Hell’s gate National Park was established in 1984 and is managed by Kenya Wildlife Services which is the official conservation body established by Kenyan government and is entrusted with conservation of the wildlife in Kenya. Its among the top visited national parks of Kenya like the case for Amboseli and Masai Mara National reserve.
From Nairobi, its only 90kilometersand the main attractions here include, red walled cliffs travel along the gorge and feature two volcanic rock formations known as Fischer’s Tower and Central Tower.
A smaller gorge leads you to the Central Tower and then to the Hot springs. From there, two extinct volcanoes called exist known as, Olkaria, Hobley’s at the park borders
This national park has predator animal species of which include, lions, leopards, Hyenas, Cheetahs. Other wildlife includes, zebras, elands, buffalo, hartebeest, Klipspringers, reedbuck, hyraxes and many others.
Go Gorilla Trekking in Uganda
Best Time to visit Hell’s gate National Park
The best time that one can consider can be based accordingly but in case the season is high also the fee for any particular activity will rise and for the high season the price will also be lower .
One has to also consider the time of the year because when it’s raining the animals cannot be easily seen so the best months one can see the animals I would consider the dry season although it comes in the high season but it’s worth it and it is in the months of June to March because they are the two months where it rains less that the other months .
Highlights of Hell’s Gate National Park – Practical Information
At the entrance of the park one is expected to pay a certain amount of money and which I will show you briefly. So there are various activities to try out and one of them is cycling where one pays to get a bicycle and navigate with it around the park and this experience is good because one gets to interact with the animals and incase on is tired he or she can leave the bicycle in the park and someone can get it from there.
Another highlight of the activities that can be done in the park include the hiking part where one gets a chance to climb and see the ashes of the cliffs that fell apart .This activity is fun to try out especially with the well-educated team and caring stuff of the park that is there 24/7 to help out with the people who are going to hike and it gives one an experience with is wonderful and full of memories because he or she gets to rest on top of the mountain and take pictures there of the full landscapes scenery.
An item on the list that cannot be left out is the photography tour around the park where one takes a drive throught the park and takes pictures of the animals there which is so diverse and the pictures are more great when one goes to the gorge to see the hot springs and the geysers which are memorable and they have hot water and also have a Masai market at the end of the hot springs where they sell art crafts and also get to know their culture from the people themselves of the tribe than what internet pictures them to be and after one can take a walk back and on the way one can see that the people there also share land with the animals of the park and also carryout grazing of animals such as the goats ,sheep among other animals and also the view of the pass way is also captivating because it has tress and sometimes the great calm sound of the seasonal river that flows .
Another fun activity to try out is the picnic and camping in the park they are the two activities that can be done in the park.
Park Entrance fees
One has to take not that the prices can change varying on the season and the time of the year.
| RESIDENT TYPE | CHILD | ADULT |
| Citizen | KSH 215 | KSH 300 |
| Resident | KSH 215 | KSH 300 |
| Non Resident | $17 | $26 |
Things to do in Hell’s gate National Park
Game viewing.
This national park has a variety of animals like Lions, zebras, giraffes, African buffalos, antelopes, warthogs and many others. The game drive is done mainly in the early morning where the animals are more active looking for eats and the evening drive conducted in evening when the animal have left their hiding places for the night hunt.
Bird watching
Hell’s gate national park is one of the key areas where bird watching is supported. The park recorded over 100 bird species of which include, Sharpe’s Claw, Shelly’s rufous sparrow, white –crested turaco, northern –white crowned shrike, some of the migrant birds that come to this park include, the European-bee eater, common buzzard, winchat, Siberian stonechat, isabelline Wheatear. On a lucky day over 100 bird species can be viewed.
Swimming
A visit to the geothermal health spa is a much- needed one and truly after strenuous day adventuring in the park. The spa has three cascade lagoons, the first one acting as the receiving pond for hot brine of 90 degrees gathered from different wells in the geothermal field. The second lagoon is an overflow from the first, designed in an aesthetic manner and has both shallow and deep ends. It’s a little bit cooler than the first with a temperature of about 50 degrees. The third lagoon is the largest of all containing warm water and can accommodate over 3050 people. There is an extension of a kids’ pool where you children can enjoy warm bath
Rock climbing
Climbers can go until the pointy rock formation called Fischer’s tower of about 75feets, 25 meters named after a German explore Dr. Gustav Fischer who had been sent to find a direct route to Lake Victoria from Mombasa. This place is place is for low level climbers or the starters. The second rock formation is locally referred to as Embarta in the Maasai language is much larger than the first one and only experienced climbers are advised to scale it
Bicycle riding
This activity is the only done in two national parks in Kenya are supported and purely safe. The trails are not for predators like zebras, giraffes, antelopes, baboons and many herbivores. This activity is done any time though if you want to view the game in the journey you either move morning or evening. The bicycle is hired at the gate of the park.
Also other activities like nature walks is also supported
Car Rental in Kenya- Self Drive in East Africa.
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| Landcruiser 76 Series | UGANDA | TANZANIA | KENYA | RWANDA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| ROOFTOP TENT | $20 | $20 | $20 | $20 |
