About Lake Naivasha
Lake Naivasha is a beautiful freshwater lake found in the Great Rift Valley. Naivasha is a marvelous town with its own endemic beauty that is synonymous with the area. Lake Naivasha is a fresh water lake with sandy banks and fringed with papyrus. The lake is also surrounded by forests of the yellow barked Acacia Xanthophlea, also known as the yellow fever tree. These forests are abundant with bird life. The waters of the lake attract a wide range of game to the shores. Giraffes and waterbucks wander among the acacia. Buffalos are common. Colobus monkeys are seen on the treetops while the lakes large hippo population can be easily be seen.
Lake Naivasha derives its name from a Masai word Nai’posha that means ‘rough water’. This is because there are storms that arise from the lake indeterminately as a result of the afternoon winds experienced on it. At the start of the 20th Century, the lake had all but dried up and for a time disappeared creating an expanse that was consequently occupied by new estates. Upon its return into existence it swallowed up the said estates. This phenomenon has not occurred again. The area around Lake Naivasha is rich in agricultural bounty due to its fertile soils and water supply.
How to Get To Lake Naivasha
By Road: Lake Naivasha is about 100 km from Nairobi and can take up to two hours depending on traffic. The road network is good.
By Rail: The new railway that has been built recently is located to the South of Naivasha and connected to the South in Suswa can also be another mode of getting to the Lake, although once one alights from the train they would have to be transferred to the Lake by road.
By Air: There are daily scheduled flights from Nairobi wilson airport to Loldia Airstrip with Safarilink.
What to See and Do in and around Lake Naivasha
The forests around lake Naivasha are abound with bird life with over 450 species of birds, making it a world class birding destination. The lake also draws a great range of game to these shores. Giraffes can be seen wandering among the acacia, Buffalo wallowing in the swamps and Colobus monkeys on the treetops. The lake has also a large hippo population.
Also found in the lake is Crescent island game sanctuary. Within this amazing gem, one can embark on walking tours with a guide and see wild animals up close. Some of the animals that one would be able to spot while within the Sanctuary are impalas, zebras, waterbucks, giraffes, wildebeest and the eland. The island is ideal for activities such as hiking; biking and weekend retreats as well. One accesses the island via boat rides across the lake which gives a marvelous view of the hippos and water birds found within the lake.
Accommodation
There are many accommodation facilities within the lake shores. They range from luxury 5 star hotels to budget hotels. There also many other hotels in Naivasha town.