Tourist Activities in Lake Naivasha National Park take place along the floor of the East African Rift Valley, the Lake is the second largest freshwater lake in Kenya it covers most of the area space of the national park, Lake Naivasha National Park is the most recently protected area of Kenya it was gazette in the 1995 as a way of protecting animal species that call this home, it is famous for the high populations of hippos and greater and lesser Flamingoes. While on your African safari to experience the great wildebeest migration stop over at the Lake Naivasha would be something new and enticing to add to your African safari.
Top tourist activities in Lake Naivasha National Park include game viewing small as it is, the park is home to several wildlife species for example zebras, hippos, giraffes, waterbucks, bushbucks,impalas, these are sighted during game drives through the well-distributed trails of the park, these are done using 4×4-wheel car drives characterized with their open rooftops to enhance the guest experience in animal views and photography. Game drives are done in sessions, in the morning, afternoon, and evening time, they last for 2-3 hours however on some occasions it can be an all-day game drive.
Birding in Lake Naivasha National offers rewarding experiences, there are over 300 species of birds that have been recorded in the park some of which are endemics of the Rift Valley region,Examples of species include black-headed gull, lesser and greater flamingoes, Guinea fowls, red chested cuckoos, African pygmy goose, yellow-billed duck, crested francolin, scaly spurfowl, little greb, Kori bustard, to mention a few, birding is best done during the wet season, it is a fruiting time and the park tends to receive migratory species.
A boat cruise along Lake Naivasha is a thrilling experience, you will have close encounters with wildlife and birds along the marshy river banks, there are large numbers of hippos on the lake and pink flamingoes, it takes 2-3 hours do the boat cruise on motorized boats, this experience is better when the water levels are higher since this lake reduces its water levels a lot in the dry season.
Hiking Mountain Longonot is an often-great experience considered by travelers at this location, the mountain is a dormant strato volcano said to have first erupted in 1980 it takes 3-6 hours to reach the summit, it is not a tough hike but would require some bit of fitness, the hiking route is well maintained for ease hike, the surrounding is amazingly beautiful with spotted wildlife species.
Tourist activities in Lake Naivasha National Park are best done during the dry season between the months of December-February and June-December when the trails of the park are drier and easier to access, the grasses are drier and thin out which animal viewing is amazing. What to pack for activities includes long-sleeved light shirts and trousers, insect repellants, sunscreen, safari shoes, and any other important items of a personal nature.
In conclusion, tourist activities in Lake Naivasha will have you experience the best of the national park, these can be done any time of the year despite the green season coming with difficulty.