Hells Gate Canyon

Hell's Gate National Park - Naivasha

Hell's Gate is a small park that is ideal for a day trip from Nairobi being just 90 km (55 miles) from the capital. Hells Gate is unique in that visitors are completely free to walk anywhere in the park and this provides a fabulous opportunity to engage with the wildlife and the environment at close quarters, taking in all the sights, smells and sounds without the distractions of the 4X4.

The topography is diverse and dramatic with spectacular rock towers and deep gorges created by ancient volcanic activity. This landscape is home to a variety of wildlife such as cheetah, hyena, giraffe and zebra as well as prolific birdlife including the rare lammergeyer (bearded vulture) which nests high on the cliffs. Walking into the lower gorge is a fascinating trek through winding rock canyons with geothermal steam vents and hot springs along the way. The starting point for this trek can be reached by car or bicycle and walking the full length of the gorge takes about 4 hours. There are also ranger guides available for guided hikes.

The park has some of Kenya 's best rock climbing and abseiling with numerous hard climbs on the high cliffs, many with several possible routes. Fischer's Tower, a large volcanic pillar at the entrance to the gorge, is well know for its variety of short but challenging climbs. For the inexperienced climber, guiding services can be hired at the Park gate, as can equipment.

t: 01625 440777 e: info@kenya-indepth.co.uk

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